Luke seven. Let's get after it. Grab your bibles. Luke seven. We are in our series encounters with Jesus, where we're looking at Jesus had encounters with different types of people. Or maybe it's more appropriate to say that different types of people had these encounters with Jesus. And as we look at how he interacted with different types of people, how can we better know our savior to better follow our savior and love our savior? So we've been looking at that. Last week we were in Luke seven. We're going to be in Luke seven again today, and we're going to be in Luke seven again next week as well. The first part of Luke seven, you get two actions from Jesus. He heals the centurion servant without even having to be there. Like just kind of this miraculous display of power that's not bound to location. And then you have him raising the only son of a widow there. We looked at last week, so kind of two actions from Jesus. And then in the next part of Luke seven, you'll get two responses to Jesus, we're going to look at one today and one next week. So that's where we're going to be. And you get some response today that we're going to look at through some people that might be acting a bit spoiled. Would you say that you're spoiled? I don't know if you'd admit that. Maybe your parents practiced gentle parenting. They never told you? No. You got a lot of trophies, but you never won anything. Is that a little spoiledness in here? Or let me ask this. Do you feel like you're picky? Or would you feel like you're controlling? Would it be easier if I asked, do you think your spouse is picky or controlling? You say that nobody wants to answer that question. We can have, like, you know, some hopes and dreams and desires and expectations of things that we want to see played out or lived out. And we can be pretty specific in what we think that we want. Like, we have hopes for our country. We have hopes and dreams for our family. We have hopes and dreams for our own life and our career. Like, there's things that we want. And we can get pretty detailed with what we want. We can get pretty specific with what we hope for, what we desire, even what we expect. Like, we want a president who's mature but not too old or who's bold but not rude or cares about this and not that. Like, we know what we want. Or when it comes to your house, it's like, I want a house that's you know, I got this much land or these kind of countertops or a front porch or a master bath, like you have. Like, I know what I want in a house, right? Or I know what I want in a spouse. I want a guy who's mainly can fix things, but also stays up with me late in the night and talks about my feelings like, I want. I know what it is that I want. Or I want a church that you see a lot of young people, but yet it's still traditional, or it's always reaching new people, but yet it's not too big. Or it has this kind of ministry, and, like, we know what we want, or we're very specific in what we desire, but what about when it comes to a savior or a messiah? I want a savior who's like this but not like that, and cares about this but doesn't care about that. In Jesus day, people were looking forward to this messiah. They're under roman oppression, and they're just longing for this promised deliverance to them as a people. Like, when is this deliverer, this messiah, the savior, going to come and kind of pull us out from under this oppression that we live under? And then Jesus came, and it wasn't quite what they expected. I mean, born to an unwed youngster in Bethlehem when there's no room and an end. And then you say some things that catch us off guard. You do some things that are on the wrong day, you end up getting arrested and executed. Like, has Jesus never disappointed you? Have you ever been frustrated with God? Like, why aren't you doing what I want you to do? And it doesn't seem like I'm asking anything out of your character, but why won't you do it? Why won't you help me find that spouse or help me have those kids or help me get that job or heal me from this disease or fix this problem or this tension? Like, why won't you do it? You ever been frustrated with God? And have those frustrations ever turned into doubts? Like, if you're not doing what I'm asking you to do, then I don't even know if I believe in you anymore. I don't even know if you exist. What do you think Jesus would say to somebody like that? And could we entertain the possibility that as american Christians who have such, such an individualistic culture and live in such prosperity and are used to kind of having a consumer, like, we can get what we want? What would Jesus kind of press into that? Is there a particular spoiledness or a spiritual spoiledness that we need to have ears to hear. So Luke, chapter seven, let's just get right into it. We're going to start where we left off last week. We're going to pick up in verse 18. You guys ready to go? All right, verse 18. The disciples of John, this is John the Baptist reported all these things to him. Now, these things, him is John. His disciples bring back a report to John of these things. And these things are all the miraculous things that Jesus has been doing. Specifically in this context. What we've seen is that he healed the centurion servant without even being there. He raised the widow's son from the dead. Like, this is big stuff, and you do stuff like that. People are going to talk about it. In fact, at the end, in verse 17, it says, this report about him spread like it's going everywhere. Like people are talking about it and the disciples of John are talking about it, and they're bringing news back to John about these things and calling two of his disciples to him. He sent them to the Lord, saying, are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another? That's his question. Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another? Now, John is not doubting that Jesus ministry is valid. He's just saying, are you the one, or are you just a one? And there's going to be another, the one, like, are you the one that we've been talking about that I've been expecting, that I thought, that I hoped, or should we expect another? And then what's behind this question? There was an idea that developed that before the Messiah would come, different Old Testament prophets would precede him, kind of prepare the way, like Elijah would come back and Jeremiah would come back, and other Old Testament prophets would come to kind of prepare the way for the messiah. Just like when Jesus was going into Caesarea Philippi in Matthew 16, and he's saying, hey, who do people say that I am? And you remember what they said? Well, some people think one was John the Baptist, who was dead at the time, others saying Elijah, others Jeremiah. Like people are talking about you, like you are something, you are someone. There is a buzz, but are you the one? And John is asking this question, are you the one, or should we expect another? Because I was under the impression that I was a precursor to you thinking you're the one, but are you just another precursor for the one that is to come. Now, why might John the Baptist be thinking that? Well, he's in jail right now and he had some bold words about some immorality from a political leader that got him in jail and will eventually take his life. And in jail, he's asking this question because Jesus is going around talking about, turn the other cheek and love your enemies. And he's healing roman soldiers, servants. And this isn't really lining up with John's expectations for Jesus ministry. And we know that because John was up front with his expectations of Jesus ministry. This is in Luke, chapter three. He said, therefore to the crowds, this is John the Baptist talking. He said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, you brood of vipers. Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? I've always wanted to start a sermon that way. I just haven't had the courage yet. It says, bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourself, we have Abraham as our father. For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree, therefore, that does not bear good fruit, is cut down and thrown into the fire. So he's saying, the guy that I'm kind of leading the way for preparing the way for, he's carrying an axe and he's ready to swing it. So there's some big talk there. He's like, you better repent because our guy's coming, and he's coming swinging an axe. He says this in Matthew three as well. I baptize you with water for repentance. But he who is coming after me, he's mightier than I. You see, he's kind of talking this up like, you better recognize whose sandals I'm not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn. But the chaff, he's going to deal with the chaff. The chaff will be burned with unquenchable fire. So there's some like, you better recognize the guy that I'm kind of leading or preparing the way for. He's coming with an axe. He's coming with judgment. He's coming to kind of deal with the. The sinners and the oppressors of our time. This is John's expectations. And then Jesus ministry is like, I don't. Are you the one? Or was I talking about somebody else when I said those things? Like, you're making me look bad, or am I misunderstanding something? Imagine it like this. Let's say you're a young kid, freshman in high school, you got an older brother. Last year, that older brother was the captain of the football team. Big strong guy. Nobody messed with him, but he went off to college and now you're in school and people are picking on you and you have a bully. But all year you're telling everybody, just wait till my brother gets back. Just wait til my brother, and he's going to deal with you. And you're talking big. Like, you can't just wait till my brother comes back. The first semester goes by and he comes back on Christmas break, but he comes back with a ponytail, wearing loafers, and he's got like eight bracelets on one hand. And all he wants to talk about is, how can we all just get along? You're like, I thought you were going to deal with my bully. I thought you were going to help out. Like, there's a miscommunication here. Like there was an expectation that you're not meeting. Like, I thought you were going to come and deal this and you came and did that. So John's asking a question. Are you the one or should we expect another? Now, do you have expectations you put on God that he's not meeting? Why won't, why won't you just do this? Why can't you help me here? Why don't you heal this situation? Why don't you fix this relational conflict? Why don't you heal this disease? Why don't you find that employment? And you put it on these expectations and you're frustrated, or maybe similar to John, you have nationalistic expectations. Why don't you heal our land? Why don't you fix our corruption? Why don't you help our government? Like, why not God? When Satan was tempting Jesus in the wilderness, one of the temptations offered to him was to rule the whole world, all this world. Like, you can have it, it's yours. The condition was just worship me. So here's the shortcut. Like, you can do, you can have this world how you want it. You just have to sacrifice true worship to God and have misplaced worship. But you get the world. Like, you can have it now. You can do it the way that that you want. It was a very short sighted plan. But Satan had a plan. Satan had a plan for Jesus. Like, sacrifice your worship, have the world. Do you remember when Jesus was telling his disciples about God's plan for him, his father's plan for him, that he was going to get arrested and crucified and Peter rebukes him he's like, I don't like that plan. No, not a good plan. I don't like that. We're not doing that. No, not happening. And Jesus then rebukes Peter, and he says, get behind me, Satan. He's like, oh. Oh, Peter, I hear the plan you have for me. You want me to rule, not die. And that sounds an awful, like another plan that I've heard offered to me before. And I wonder if sometimes we desire Satan's plan for Jesus more than God's plan for Jesus. Some kind of shortcut, the here and now. A very short sighted vision when God has eternal plans. Well, John is in jail, and he's struggling a little bit, which is understandable. He wants to know, are you the one? Because I'm confused. I got questions. Are you the one, or should we wait for another? And this is sure enough, his disciples deliver that question, verse 20. And when the men had come to him, they said, john the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, are you the one who is to come, or shall we wait or look for another? I wonder if that kind of stung a little bit coming from John. It's understandable, though. Like here you were talking big. You had this big ministry. You're putting yourself out there. You get arrested, and you're wondering, how's this unfolding? And that's the question that comes his way. Well, here's Jesus answer, verse 21. In that hour. So in that immediate time when they asked that question, that hour is when the disciples of John came to Jesus with that question. So when that question was posed to him in that hour, he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits. And on many who were blind, he bestowed sight. So you got to get this. Before Jesus gave a verbal answer to their questions, he gave a visual answer to their questions. Like, before he answers the questions, are you the one or not? Before he kind of gives a verbal answer to that question, he's just like, blind person, come here, have sight, right? Sick person, come here. Healed demon possessed person, come here free of spirit. He's just looking at him. What do you think? Like, before, I'm going to give you this verbal answer. Because it's not just talk. I'm giving you evidence. I'm affirming the answer I'm about to give you. Like, what do you see? What am I showing you? And then he gives them a verbal answer after he shows them verse 22. And he answered them, go and tell John what you have seen and heard. The blind receive their sight. The lame walk lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up. The poor have good news preached to them. So these were Old Testament signs of the Messiah, mostly out of the book of Isaiah. But there's this kind of things like, here's what you are going to see the Messiah do when he comes. He's going to do this kind of stuff. He's going to give sight to the blind, he's going to raise the dead. He's going to preach good news to the poor. Lepers are going to be healed. These are all messianic signs. So he's giving these signs as an answer. But the interesting thing is there's one particular messianic sign that's missing in that list, and that is that when the Messiah comes, he's going to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. That might be helpful information for John right then. Right. Like he's in prison wanting this information. Are you the one? Because I know what to look for in the one. Like as a prisoner, I know what to hope for in the one. And you wonder how John received this news when his disciples came back and they said what we saw, what we heard, and they said, here's the answer that Jesus told us to give you. The blind receive their sight, the lame walk lepers are cleansed and the deaf hearing. The dead are raised up. The poor have good news preached to them. I wonder if John's like, and what do you mean? And that's all he said. But like, the captives set free. No, he didn't say anything like that. No. No captives being set free. And then the next line is, what's really interesting, he says, and blessed is the one who is not offended by me. You ever been offended by Jesus? Maybe you don't like something he said. Maybe you don't like something he's commanded. Maybe you don't like the fact that he has the authority to make those commandments and say those things. Like, there's plenty of offensiveness to Jesus. But what's interesting about that comment is the context in which it's in. Let's look at it again. And he answered them, go and tell John what you have seen and heard. The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, leopards are cleansed, and the deaf hear. The dead are raised up. The poor have good news preached for them, and blessed is the one who's not offended by me. Which part of that is offensive? Which part of that list of all these amazing miraculous things that Jesus doing is offensive. Like, is anybody being like, if he heals one more blind person, I'm just done, right? The eye doctors are kind of getting together. They're frustrated. Like, you read that list and be like, what's so offensive about this? Like, he's doing amazing messianic signs, but it's what's missing that could be offensive. Here's what he's saying to John. John, I am the one. What if my ministry isn't exactly what you want it to be? What if I don't do exactly what you want me to do? What if you stay in prison? What if you die in prison? What if you get your head chopped off? What if I get arrested? What if I get crucified? What if Rome stays in power longer? What if everything doesn't go according to your hopes and dreams and plans, but goes exactly according to God's plans? Blessed is the person who's okay with that. Or you put it this way, blessed is the person who surrenders their expectations to God's plans. Blessed is the person who surrenders their expectations to God. And it says blessed. Now, sometimes people are like, well, blessed means happy. Yes, but, I mean, it's not like happiness. That might way we would use it in kind of just a superficial way, but it does point to a fulfillment, a contentment. He's saying, hey, blessed is the person who's content or not offended in surrendering to what I want, because what I want is better. It's going to be better for my plans to unfold than your plans to unfold. It's going to be better doing it my way than your way, even if you don't understand my way. So he's saying, blessed is the person who gets that. Blessed is the person who receives that. Blessed is the person who surrenders to that. But maybe for John, that was enough. Maybe the report came back from his disciples, and they're like, john, you would not believe what we saw and heard. Like, you would not. Like, he just healed lepers. He raised people from the dead. He gave the blood blind their sight back. Like, you would not believe it. He commanded evil spirits, and they had to obey him. Like it was crazy. And John, maybe that was enough for John. And he was like, are you serious? Like, you saw it? I said, oh, we saw it. And John's reaction is like, oh, well, that's enough for me. That's enough for me. If he's the messiah and the messiah is real and he's here, then I'm okay in prison. Cut my head off. I'm good. Maybe that was enough for him. If the messiah is real, because if the messiah is real, I can endure these circumstances because these circumstances are temporary, but the Messiah's plans are eternal. Because, listen, church, it's not about whether or not he does what you want him to do. It's about whether or not he is who he says he is. Because if he is who he says he is, then he can be trusted when you're in prison, and he can be trusted with that diagnosis, and he can be trusted in that trial, and he can be trusted in those circumstances. If John's like, I don't know what you're up to, but after hearing your resume, I'm with you. After getting this report that the blind have sight, that the dead are raised, that the lepers are healed, like, I'm with you. You can be trusted. Here's what happens next. Verse 24. When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John. Now Jesus is about to say some really nice things about John, and it was like, maybe he didn't have to wait before his messenger was gone. It would have been good for him to hear that. But then when the messengers were gone, then Jesus began to speak, and he said some nice things about John, but they were pointed things to the people that were listening. He said this. 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 are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in King's courts. He says, like, what did you go out to see? And people went out to see something. John was popular. He's filling arenas. Like, people went out in crowds. John had a really popular ministry. A lot of people were going out. He's like, well, what did you have to see? And there's some sarcasm here. He's saying, did you just go out and see some reed blown in the wind? Some gentle character? It's like, no, you saw it. John had a bold message, like, he wasn't afraid to say what he was thinking. He said, did you go out to see somebody dressed in nice clothes? No. He's like, camel hair eating locust kind of wild man. He's like, what did you think you were going to find? What did you think you were going to find? Some kind of comfortable thing that fit nicely with your plans and your lifestyle? What were you looking for? He says, 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. So John is a prophet, but he is saying he is a special kind of prophet who had a special ministry that he was called to. He was the one to prepare the way for the messiah. So back to John's question. Are you the one, or should we wait for another? Are you the one I've been preparing people for? Are you the one I've been talking about? And he's saying, yes, yes, I am. This is John. He was preparing the way for me, and I'm the one. He had this special ministry. And then it says this, I tell you, among those born of women, none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. Now, that can be kind of a confusing passage, like what he's saying he's honoring John in his ministry, but he's also pointing to how big a deal of what John's ministry is leading to. So on one hand, he's saying, john is this tremendous prophet of God that has called with a special task. But John was like the last of the Old Testament prophets. All these prophets in the Old Testament, they're talking about a day's coming, a day's coming, like someday God's deliverer is going to come. But John was the one that's like, it's now like the messiah is here. So what Jesus is saying, it's better to be on this side of John's message than that side of John's message. It's better to be here after the messiah has come and proclaimed the good news. Like, this is where you want to be. And he goes on to say this. This is Luke's observation that's happening. When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors, too, because they're there listening in, they declared God, just having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purposes of God or the purpose of God for themselves not having been baptized by him. So here's what happens. Jesus is addressing this crowd. He's talking about John particularly, particularly his ministry. He's talking to some people that responded well to John's ministry. He's talking to some people that didn't respond well to John's ministry. And he comforts those people in this audience that responded well to John's ministry. And he offends the people that didn't respond to John's ministry in that message. And church that should happen here every week, that there's some people that are comforted and some people that are offended, because if you're pursuing God and following Christ and submitting to his word, you should find comfort in the gospel and the words of scripture. But if you're chasing after sin, you should be offended. We don't want you to feel comfortable pursuing sin. And Jesus, in his message, he's like, some people are, like, applauding, like, yes, great job. We're for that. And other people are upset by what he's saying. But then he gives this interesting analogy or illustration that is sometimes referred to as the parable of the brats. Not brats. I know since Father's day, our minds are elsewhere, but it's sometimes referred to as the parable of the brats. Look at verse 31. To what then shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like now? We do this, right? We critique generations, right? Millennials. Right? So you laughed. Or Gen Z or boomers. Like, we kind of look at that. Jesus is like, I want to give my commentary on this generation. I want to tell you what the people are like that I'm dealing with. Here's what he says to what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another. We played the flute for you, and you did not dance. We sang a dirge, and you did not weep. So what's he saying here? This is Jesus assessment of the generation. So, you know, a bunch of brats. What he means by that is, like, you're acting like spoiled children. You're acting like a group of children that go to the marketplace to play your music, and you're whining because the people aren't dancing to your music, right? We play the music a happy song, and they don't dance. We play them a sad song, and they don't cry. And we're mad because you're not doing what we want you to do. They're frustrated. People aren't obeying. Right? You guys know that sometimes people obey, sometimes they don't. Everybody raise your right hand. See, not everybody did that. There's people that's like, I'm gonna stand and play it safe on the outskirts. You ever been to a wedding? And after the wedding, they have a dance? And not everybody goes to the dance floor with the confidence just to freelance it with any song. But when that song comes on, that's going to actually give you step by step instructions on how to dance. More people will participate because it's like, I don't want to go out there, but if you're going to tell me step left, I can step left, we can do that. He's like, they're giving the instruction. We can follow that. They're saying, here's what you're acting like. You're acting like a dj playing this song, but nobody's dancing, and you're just whining about it. You're playing your music and people aren't responding to you the way you want them to, so you're acting like children about it. Now, specifically, he applies that to John and himself. He's saying, john is not exactly how you want him to be. He's too wild. He's too extreme, he's too strict. But then, on the other hand, Jesus isn't exactly how you want either. He's a little too loose. He's a little too unpredictable. Jesus is like, what do you want? What do you want? I mean, this generation is a generation of seekers. Like, you're looking, you want this messiah to come. You want to be delivered from Rome. You are looking for God's, God's man to come and rescue you. You want it. You're seeking for that. But in your seeking, you become really picky and spoiled. In fact, there's a term that sometimes gets talked about in the american context of consumer Christianity. Like, we live in a day and age. In a situation where you got so many church options, it's almost like you're the customer and you get a lot of products to pick, pick from. And you can try to find a church that's this size or this size or has these ministries or these ministries or has this kind of music or that kind of music or talks about this, these issues or that issues, and you can just kind of, you can just kind of pick what you want. You can kind of be a consumer. And a little bit he's saying, hey, John came offering this and you didn't like that. And I came offering this and you didn't like that. What do you want? The problem with consumerism, though, is it puts you in charge, and you being in charge doesn't satisfy your soul. It doesn't satisfy your soul. He said, whatever it gets offered to you. John had this type of message and you rejected it. And Jesus had this type of message and you rejected it. And wherever you go, there you are. And you go to this kind of church and you eventually get frustrated. You go to this kind of church and eventually get frustrated wherever you are there you are. You say, what do you want? Because consumer Christianity doesn't work and it never satisfies. Real Christianity is about surrender to control. And then Jesus applies it specifically to John and Jesus, in case they didn't make the connection, look at verse 33. For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine. And you say, he has a demon. The son of man has come eating and drinking, and you say, look at him. A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. You know, oftentimes when somebody doesn't like the message, they slander the messenger. They don't like what John is saying. It's like, oh, he's got a demon, right? Or when they don't like the truth, they can slander or attack the style. You know, like what Jesus was saying. It's like, yeah, but do you know who he hangs out with? And Jesus, like, what is it that you want? You're never satisfied. You're never satisfied because you're trying to stay in control. You didn't like John and his message. You don't like me and my message. What do you want? And basically what he's telling him is, you don't want a messiah. You want to be the messiah, or you want a messiah that will do everything you say to do. You want a messiah who's at your party in which you dj. And when you play the song that says step left, you want them to step left. And it says step right, you want him to step right. You want to be in control. Now, the parable seems a bit confusing because the children who are said to represent this generation are the ones playing the music. They play the flute. You don't dance. You play the dirge, you don't weep. And it's illustrating that John and Jesus aren't dancing to their tunes. That's what they're frustrated about. But when the connection is made to John and Jesus and their ministry, it seems like, well, John's playing the funeral and Jesus is playing the wedding. So John's fasting, but you guys aren't crying. John's calling you to repent, but you guys aren't repenting. But Jesus comes, like, partying and eating a lot and hanging out with the tax collectors, but you're not celebrating that either. So it seems like they're the ones playing the music. Now, I think that's kind of the point, or at least it illustrates the problem. The problem is that they think they're djing this dance, and it's like, you need to dance to our tunes. You need to obey our orders. You need to fit into our system. You need to listen to our music. What they need to realize is that Jesus is playing the music. That they need to learn to dance to Jesus is like, I didn't come to fit into your systems. I didn't come to fulfill your hopes and dreams. I didn't come to live out your expectations. I came to be obedient to my father. I came to play a tune of my own to see if you can dance. And then he ends with the verse 35. Yet wisdom is justified by all her children. Kind of a proverb saying there. And what he's saying is, in contrast to their rejection, there are people who are responding to John. There are people who are responding to Jesus. There are people who are dancing to what we're talking about. And wisdom is seen in the results. Basically, there's two types of children. There's brats and there's wise. So here's my application. Don't be brat. Don't be a brat. Don't be so demanding, Jesus. You need to do what I say. You need to do what I say when I say it, how I want it done. Like, you need to obey me. There's no way to respond to Jesus, but how are you responding to Jesus, Jesus? Or are you just frustrated in the way in which he's responding to you? Are you being a brat? Like, are you demanding that God follows your commands and you're frustrated when he doesn't? And you complain when he doesn't? You ever hear people talk about, well, my Jesus would never do that. My Jesus doesn't think that way. My Jesus would never say that. And people kind of create their own Jesus. You know, Thomas Jefferson had a Bible. It's the Thomas Jefferson Bible. And in that Bible, he cut out every part that he didn't like. What a brat. What a brat. And if you're bothered by the fact that I called one of our founding fathers a brat, maybe that gives you a sense of emotion of this parable and how it would have been heard by the Pharisees and lawyers and highly respected people listening to that. You don't get to just pick and choose. You're not djing this world. God doesn't dance to your tunes. And look at you cry about it. The question is, are you dancing to the music God is playing? Not as God, obeying the commands that you're given. Are you wise? Do you respond to John's message when it's a call to repent and take your sins seriously. Do you respond to the teachings of Jesus? And it's described as wise because it shows an understanding. God's ways are higher than my ways. His perspective is better than my perspective. His plans are better than my plans. He's smarter than I am. So, church, here's the call. Joyfully surrender your expectations for God's plans. Joyfully surrender your expectations for God's plans. Listen, I know we got our desires and our hopes and our expectations and our dreams, and I just want this to work out, and I just want this to get better, and I just want God to come and move in this way. But Christianity is about learning to dance to God's plans, to follow his word, to joyfully lean into whatever he has unfolding. And I say joyfully because it's better. It's better. God's plans are better than your plans. Think about it. What did John the Baptist want? Well, I'm probably out of prison, and I want out from under the roman oppression. And I want you to deal with the oppressors, and I want you to kind of deal with the injustice, and I want you to deal with bringing the righteousness of God into our society, all good things that John was desiring. But what did Jesus do? He was arrested and crucified. For our redemption, for our forgiveness, for our reconciliation back to our father, for new life in him. He didn't come and beat Rome. No, he didn't. He came and beat sin, Satan and death. His plans are better. His plans are bigger. We have to understand that. And I know for some of us, it's just like, I just want you to heal me. I just want you to fix this situation. I just want you to restore this marriage. I just want you to help me get this job. I just want you to fix our country. I just want whatever it is. And hear me, church, I want you to hear this. Don't fall too in love with your short sighted plans for God. Fall more in love with God's eternal plan for you, a plan of everlasting life reconciled back to your maker, where all your sins are atoned for and you have everlasting life with him. Learn that tune, dance to and live to that music. And you hear it played loudly on the cross of Jesus Christ. The music of the cross is come and die. Come and die. Lay down your life. Lose your life for his sake. To what? To find it. And life is found in surrender to Jesus. Life is found when you lay down your plans and your expectations and your dreams. And your desires, and you open. Haley, say God. Whatever you have for me, that's what I want. If it's prison, it's prison. If it's cancer, it's cancer. If it's trials, it's trials. If it's struggles, it's struggles. But whatever you have for me, for your glory, I surrender to. And the promise of the cross is if you come and die for Jesus, if you trust Jesus like that, then he has life ever after. For you, it's new resurrected life. You lose your life for my sake. And you'll find it. You'll find it. So, as we take communion and we remember the sacrifice, we remember that his body was hung on a cross and his blood was shed. Would you use this moment as a time of surrender? Let me put it this way. Would you treat this moment as a time of worship through a time of surrender? And I want to get practical with this. Before you eat that cracker and you drink that juice, what would you say to God, to yourself, in prayer? I trust you with. And you fill in the blank. I trust you with my marriage. I trust you with my children. I trust you with this country. I trust you with my health. I trust you in this trial. I trust you with my life. And as you look at some elements that represent Christ's sacrifice, do you know what it's saying to us? That Christ is trustworthy, and you can surrender all your hopes and dreams and expectations to him and trust him with the plans he has for you. Amen. All right, let's pray. Father, I pray that you would break our pride, our childish ways of our frustrations with you, because you don't do what we say when we say it, that you're not responding to the music that we're playing for you. Help us look inside and ask the question, are we responding to the music you're playing for us? Are we being obedient to you? Are we trying to act like God? Or are we treating you like God? I pray that we would have eyes to see your holiness, to respond in surrender and trust. And I'm so thankful that you have declared your love for us on the cross, and it beckons our trust. We pray this in your name. Amen.