WEBVTT 00:00.300 --> 00:03.600 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 00:05.100 --> 00:07.300 Let's do a little bit of catechism review. 00:07.300 --> 00:11.200 What is the first commandment? You shall have 00:11.200 --> 00:13.000 no other gods before me. 00:13.000 --> 00:13.800 And what does this mean? 00:13.800 --> 00:19.000 We should fear love, and trust in God above all things. 00:19.000 --> 00:24.000 So whatever you fear, more than God, whatever you trust, more than 00:24.000 --> 00:26.000 God, whatever you love, more than God 00:26.000 --> 00:27.600 that is your idol. 00:27.600 --> 00:31.700 And just about anything can become an idol, that comes along and tries 00:31.700 --> 00:37.900 to supplant God. And one of the most common idols that we face is the 00:37.900 --> 00:39.900 approval of others. 00:40.400 --> 00:44.500 So longing, for their approval, that it takes precedent over other 00:44.500 --> 00:45.200 things. 00:45.700 --> 00:49.700 Now, when it comes to that approval of others in and of itself, it is 00:49.700 --> 00:51.200 not a bad thing. 00:51.700 --> 00:57.300 For example, if you properly, parse a Hebrew verb and win the approval 00:57.300 --> 01:04.000 of your professor, that is a very good thing. But it is something 01:04.000 --> 01:04.900 completely different 01:05.000 --> 01:08.900 when I so love the approval of others. 01:09.000 --> 01:12.900 When I so fear, losing the approval of others. 01:13.100 --> 01:13.800 When I am 01:13.800 --> 01:17.900 so trusting of the approval of others to give me a sense of 01:17.900 --> 01:21.900 accomplishment that I allow that to eclipse 01:22.400 --> 01:28.900 my fear, love, and trust of God. The sin is so Insidious, that I will 01:28.900 --> 01:29.500 turn away 01:29.500 --> 01:34.400 even from those things that I know that God does approve of because 01:34.400 --> 01:34.900 I'm out 01:35.100 --> 01:39.500 here seeking after the precious approval of other individuals. 01:39.900 --> 01:46.000 Now, of course I want their approval because I know that they are 01:46.000 --> 01:49.600 scrutinizing, my every move. 01:49.700 --> 01:56.300 They parse every word that I say, looking for fault. And I so covet 01:56.300 --> 01:57.300 their approval 01:57.500 --> 02:02.200 that I know, not only will invest a lot of energy into seeking to gain 02:02.200 --> 02:03.100 their approval. 02:03.500 --> 02:09.900 I give even more energy and making sure I avoid those things that I 02:09.900 --> 02:12.600 know will cost their approval. 02:12.600 --> 02:17.000 I won't step into those subjects just because I don't want to upset 02:17.000 --> 02:17.400 them. 02:18.400 --> 02:24.000 And then despite all that investment, I can feel their eyes burning a 02:24.000 --> 02:29.900 hole in the back of my head as they're looking for a reason to accuse 02:29.900 --> 02:30.200 me. 02:30.700 --> 02:35.600 Now I say that's how it is with me, but I also know it's the exact 02:35.600 --> 02:43.600 same way with you. We all know those burning eyes. And let's be honest, 02:44.200 --> 02:50.200 we are just as prone to turn the tables so that it's our eyes burning 02:50.200 --> 02:55.500 in the hole into somebody else as we scrutinize them. Now 02:55.700 --> 02:59.800 I know all of you wisely, heed the admonition, 03:00.000 --> 03:04.000 Doctor Rockenbach that you not scrutinize each other based upon what 03:04.000 --> 03:05.800 kind of bird you are. 03:07.400 --> 03:13.200 But nevertheless I know that you do scrutinize one another because 03:13.200 --> 03:15.600 that's what sinners do. 03:16.200 --> 03:22.000 Your eyes have burned a hole into others. Your ears have parsed 03:22.000 --> 03:25.800 every word coming from their mouth, making sure they say the right 03:25.800 --> 03:30.900 thing or at least what you have determined is the right thing. 03:32.500 --> 03:35.700 And this is exactly where Jesus finds himself 03:36.100 --> 03:41.600 in Luke 14 verse 1. There we read that it came to pass when Jesus 03:41.600 --> 03:45.900 entered the house of a certain leader of the Pharisees on the Sabbath 03:45.900 --> 03:47.200 to eat bread. 03:47.200 --> 03:52.300 They were watching him carefully. Watching him carefully. 03:52.300 --> 03:56.000 That doesn't sound really all that troubling. 03:56.900 --> 04:01.400 But it's actually a not a, it is not a very common verb that is going 04:01.400 --> 04:02.000 on here. 04:02.100 --> 04:08.200 Parate repo, which only occurs six times in the New Testament, three 04:08.200 --> 04:12.300 of those six times happen in Luke's account of the Gospel. 04:12.700 --> 04:13.600 One is here. 04:14.200 --> 04:18.800 Another one is in Luke chapter 6 verse 7, where it's a very similar 04:18.800 --> 04:21.100 situation. On the Sabbath 04:21.100 --> 04:22.900 the Pharisees are watching 04:22.900 --> 04:26.500 Jesus carefully to see if he's going to heal 04:26.700 --> 04:30.200 somebody so that they can have a reason to accuse him. 04:30.900 --> 04:35.200 It also happens in Luke chapter 20 verse 20 and there it's going to 04:35.200 --> 04:36.200 be Holy Week. 04:36.200 --> 04:40.300 It will be the scribes and the Pharisees who are again are watching 04:40.300 --> 04:47.600 Jesus carefully, even sending spies to find an opportunity to accuse 04:47.600 --> 04:49.100 him because of what he says. 04:49.100 --> 04:54.600 In other words, this verb carries a whole lot more than just watching. 04:54.600 --> 04:59.500 It is watching with malicious scrutiny 04:59.500 --> 05:03.000 so that you have a to accuse somebody else. 05:03.500 --> 05:07.600 Jesus is constantly under the microscope. 05:07.900 --> 05:15.000 His words and actions are always being dissected and Jesus refuses to 05:15.000 --> 05:22.200 give even an ounce of his energy or a second of his time to try to win 05:22.300 --> 05:26.800 the approval of those who are so scrutinizing him. 05:27.700 --> 05:32.500 He is committed to winning the approval of just one person, everything 05:32.500 --> 05:35.700 about him is about pleasing his Father. 05:36.500 --> 05:41.500 And if what he does in order to please the Father wins, the 05:41.500 --> 05:46.600 disapproval of others, then, so be it. 05:46.600 --> 05:52.600 Jesus even does what he knows will be disapproved of by others. 05:52.800 --> 05:56.600 Now, it's not that Jesus is looking to offend others. 05:57.500 --> 05:59.800 It's just that he won't let their offense 06:00.300 --> 06:06.200 be the reason that he does not do what his Father has given him to do. 06:07.300 --> 06:12.400 Jesus is being watched back there in, Luke chapter 6 and they're 06:12.400 --> 06:14.700 looking for a reason to accuse him. 06:14.900 --> 06:16.300 And yet, what does he do? 06:16.400 --> 06:17.500 It's the Sabbath. 06:17.600 --> 06:21.700 There's a man with a withered hand and he makes that hand whole. 06:22.200 --> 06:24.500 This is what the Father has sent him to do. 06:25.400 --> 06:27.000 In Luke chapter 21 06:27.300 --> 06:30.500 again, he is being watched and they're looking for a reason to accuse 06:30.500 --> 06:31.000 him. 06:31.100 --> 06:34.600 They come with a question that they know is going to box him in a 06:34.600 --> 06:35.300 corner. 06:35.700 --> 06:36.600 Is it right to pay 06:37.100 --> 06:38.500 taxes to Caesar or not? 06:38.700 --> 06:39.800 So what does he do? 06:40.300 --> 06:42.400 He doesn't dodge their question. 06:42.700 --> 06:47.600 He just answers it in a way that transcends their logic. Give to Caesar 06:47.600 --> 06:52.100 the things that are Caesar's and to God, the things that are God's. And 06:52.100 --> 06:53.700 here in Luke 14 06:54.000 --> 06:59.600 Jesus is being again, watched with malicious scrutiny on the Sabbath 07:00.200 --> 07:04.700 and still, he heals the man with dropsy. What 07:04.700 --> 07:08.400 doctors today would refer to as edema. 07:09.300 --> 07:14.500 Jesus is under constant scrutiny. And how ironic it is 07:14.500 --> 07:17.200 that it's happening on the Sabbath. 07:17.700 --> 07:24.100 The very people who are so concerned that Jesus not do anything on the 07:24.100 --> 07:26.500 Sabbath are themselves 07:26.500 --> 07:32.500 well, rather busy not resting in the least because they are so 07:32.500 --> 07:36.100 vigilant and their policing of Jesus. 07:37.200 --> 07:40.800 Now, even recall what the Lord had established with the Sabbath. 07:41.900 --> 07:48.600 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. As the Lord had rested on the 07:48.600 --> 07:52.500 seventh day after completing six days of creation. 07:53.100 --> 07:58.800 So he establishes the seventh day as a day of rest. The Sabbath was 07:58.800 --> 08:01.200 given to man as a blessing. 08:02.000 --> 08:07.700 And what is man done, turned it into a burden. A list of rules that 08:07.700 --> 08:11.800 you have to follow to make sure that you don't violate the Sabbath 08:11.900 --> 08:15.800 rather than it being God's Gift, given to his people 08:16.100 --> 08:18.200 so that they might have rest. 08:19.100 --> 08:22.300 So here are the Pharisees in Luke chapter, 14. 08:22.300 --> 08:26.700 All concerned about whether Jesus is resting on the Sabbath or not. 08:26.700 --> 08:30.600 While they are busy watching Jesus with malicious scrutiny. 08:30.600 --> 08:33.299 Looking for a way to accuse him. 08:33.900 --> 08:35.100 They aren't resting. 08:36.400 --> 08:37.600 So what does Jesus do? 08:39.100 --> 08:42.100 He causes them to rest. 08:43.200 --> 08:47.500 Jesus asks, is it permissible on the Sabbath to heal or not? 08:47.500 --> 08:50.200 Now that's a loaded question. 08:50.300 --> 08:56.300 It's a simple enough question though and they have no answer for 08:56.300 --> 08:57.000 Jesus. 08:57.700 --> 08:59.800 Our translation that we heard read 09:00.100 --> 09:02.100 said that they were silent. 09:02.300 --> 09:05.300 This is yet another rather uncommon verb. 09:05.300 --> 09:08.900 This one only occurring five times in the New Testament. 09:09.000 --> 09:10.100 Hey su kodzo. 09:10.100 --> 09:15.700 This unique verb also means to rest. 09:16.400 --> 09:19.900 In fact, the only other place that it occurs in Luke's account of the 09:19.900 --> 09:21.400 Gospel will be in 09:21.400 --> 09:28.700 Luke 23:56. Where we read that Jesus has been laid in the Tomb and the 09:28.700 --> 09:34.100 women prepare spices and ointments in order to anoint his body and 09:34.100 --> 09:41.200 then they rest. Hey su kodzo on the Sabbath according to the 09:41.200 --> 09:48.000 Commandment. With just one question, is it permissible to heal on the 09:48.000 --> 09:49.000 Sabbath or Not? 09:49.400 --> 09:58.500 Jesus gets the Pharisees to rest, their mouths are still. But of 09:58.500 --> 10:01.200 course, did you notice that there is a whole lot more going on back 10:01.200 --> 10:07.900 there in Luke 23. Where is the true Sabbath rest found? 10:09.300 --> 10:10.600 It's in Jesus. 10:11.500 --> 10:15.500 It wasn't just the women who rested on the Sabbath according to the 10:15.500 --> 10:20.100 Commandment. Jesus himself is resting in the Tomb. 10:21.200 --> 10:25.300 At creation, he'd been busy for six days, going about creation. 10:25.500 --> 10:30.200 And then on the seventh day, he rests because his work is completed 10:30.200 --> 10:36.100 not because he's tired and worn out. And it happens that way also on 10:36.100 --> 10:37.100 Holy Saturday. 10:37.500 --> 10:43.600 Jesus had been busy for years healing and preaching, even dying for 10:43.600 --> 10:44.300 the people. 10:44.800 --> 10:50.000 And when his work is now, finally completed, he rests in the Tomb 10:50.800 --> 10:51.700 on the Sabbath. 10:52.800 --> 11:00.800 Jesus fulfills the Sabbath. Only in him is their true rest. 11:02.100 --> 11:06.400 That means the Sabbath is not centered upon what you do or don't do. 11:06.600 --> 11:11.400 The Sabbath is all about what God is doing for you. 11:12.000 --> 11:14.800 The Sabbath is God serving man. 11:15.200 --> 11:19.800 It was that way in Luke chapter 14, Jesus serves the man with dropsy 11:20.100 --> 11:22.200 making him to be whole. 11:22.500 --> 11:25.700 It's the same way back and Luke chapter 6 with the man with the withered 11:25.700 --> 11:27.900 hand that Jesus makes whole. 11:28.300 --> 11:29.100 And it's that way 11:29.100 --> 11:36.100 also in Luke Chapter 20, Luke chapter 23, as Jesus rests in the Tomb 11:36.100 --> 11:36.900 for us. 11:37.400 --> 11:40.300 It's still that way today. 11:40.800 --> 11:44.400 Jesus is here serving you. 11:45.200 --> 11:50.600 It is not the seventh day, it's not even Sunday the Lord's day but 11:50.600 --> 11:53.700 nevertheless, this is Sabbath. 11:54.200 --> 11:59.400 Here we have Sabbath rest because here we are for the Divine service. 12:00.200 --> 12:02.500 God serving us. 12:03.700 --> 12:09.700 He comes to us in his word, he feeds us his body and blood he gives us 12:09.900 --> 12:11.800 absolution for our sin. 12:12.300 --> 12:16.700 He puts his name on us a new that we might live in the certainty that 12:16.700 --> 12:17.800 we are saved. 12:18.800 --> 12:21.200 Jesus delivers rest. 12:22.000 --> 12:25.200 Now our society knows that we need rest. 12:25.200 --> 12:28.700 And in fact, this weekend, you're supposed to get an extra dose of 12:28.700 --> 12:30.700 rest with a three-day weekend. 12:31.300 --> 12:37.300 We all know that we need rest, but an extra day off is not going to do 12:37.300 --> 12:42.800 the trick. Now, take advantage of it, fire up the grill, kick back, 12:42.800 --> 12:48.200 relax a bit, enjoy it but it's not going to give you the rest that you 12:48.200 --> 12:48.500 truly 12:48.700 --> 12:49.200 need. 12:50.400 --> 12:51.500 Only Jesus 12:51.500 --> 12:53.200 does that. Only 12:53.200 --> 13:00.200 He delivers Sabbath rest. Rest is not bound up in what you're doing or 13:00.200 --> 13:00.500 not 13:00.500 --> 13:05.100 doing. Rest is all bound up in Christ. 13:06.500 --> 13:13.000 Jesus asks, who have you having a son or an ox fall into a well 13:13.000 --> 13:16.300 on the Sabbath does not immediately draw him up. 13:17.400 --> 13:23.300 Now how much more the Father? He looks out upon you 13:23.500 --> 13:26.800 not with eyes that are going to burn a hole in 13:26.800 --> 13:32.800 you seeking to find some fault for which to accuse you. Instead 13:33.100 --> 13:39.000 He looks out upon you and he sees your need and he gives answer. 13:40.200 --> 13:43.000 He sees your sin and he forgives it. 13:43.800 --> 13:51.100 He sees the burden of your sin and he takes it off of you and gives 13:51.100 --> 13:54.200 you rest. Rest 13:54.800 --> 13:57.300 only found in Jesus. 13:58.500 --> 14:02.000 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.