Are you ready for the gospel tonight? Amen. Will you please turn in your Bibles to Mark chapter 10. Mark chapter 10, we're going to be starting in verse 32. Now hear the word of our God. And they were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him over to the Gentiles, and they will mock him. and spit on him, and flog him, and kill him. And after three days he will rise. And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you. And he said to them, what do you want me to do for you? And they said to him, grant us to sit one at your right hand and one at your left in your glory. Jesus said to them, you do not know what you're asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? And they said to him, we're able. And Jesus said to them, the cup that I drink, you will drink. And with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized. but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.' And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them, but it shall not be so among you. For whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. And they came to Jericho, and as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples in a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me. And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stopped and said, call him. And they called the blind man, saying to him, take heart, get up, he is calling you. And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, what do you want me to do for you? And the blind man said to him, Rabbi, let me recover my sight. And Jesus said to him, go your way, your faith has made you well. And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. This is the word of the Lord. Each and every one of us here has deep longings, deep longings in this life. It's actually part of what it means to be made in the image of God. And knowing that, I wanna begin with a few diagnostic questions before we dig into our text. Where do you direct your deepest desires? Or more to the point, do you bring to Jesus all the things that are on your heart or not? Are you crying out to Him knowing that He hears and will answer you? I hope you'll consider these questions not just during our sermon tonight, but on Monday morning when the week is about to begin. On Wednesday when you're right in the thick of it. At week's end when you're beat down or if you're a triumphant conqueror. I want these questions to be prompts to move you out of you and to move you towards Jesus in every situation. Because Mark 10 shows us that Jesus wants you to come to Him wherever you are. We have two scenes where folks reach out to Jesus with expectations. And on both occasions, He invites them to spell out exactly what it is they want. James and John run up trying to trick Jesus into writing them a blank check. And Jesus asks in verse 36, what do you want me to do for you? And blind Bartimaeus cries out to Jesus. And again, Jesus asks, what do you want me to do for you? Mark places these two scenes together to show us Jesus' identical response, that despite the huge contrast in who they are and their motivations, Jesus wants you to come to him. James and John, they're part of the inner circle of the inner circle of Jesus 12. They're likely his relatives too. And they use their access to approach Jesus with a very self-centered request. Blind Bartimaeus is as far an outsider as you could be, a blind beggar on the sidelines of a huge Jesus crowd, unable to get an audience with Jesus. And all he wants from Jesus is a little mercy to regain his sight. And despite the differences, Jesus sees faith and encourages them to tell all. And while this doesn't necessarily mean that Jesus is going to give us everything we ask, like in the case of James and John, when we come in faith, Jesus does provide what we need the most, himself. Plin Bartimaeus receives his sight so he can follow Jesus. And while James and John are already following Jesus, their questions show that their desires are far too small. So Jesus reveals to them who He is and what He came to accomplish and assures them with a promise that they will follow Him where He is going. They will be with Him. Jesus makes us His disciples when we come to Him in faith. And we can zoom out. and find that discipleship has been Mark's focus from chapters eight through 10. On your bulletin at the top part here, you'll see there's a pattern in this discipleship section of Mark. Three times in three chapters, Jesus predicts his passion. And three times the disciples respond inappropriately and then they receive a lesson in self-denial. And notice that our section begins and ends with the healing of blind men. Mark wants us to see in this section how blurry the disciples' vision is, how they need Jesus to take their blinders off so they can see something better. That should make us pause as we consider what is happening right now. We've come here tonight to learn from Jesus, perhaps as disciples who have been following Jesus for quite some time. Yet we may still be missing out on much that Jesus wants you to see. Don't assume that you have seen everything Jesus is trying to tell you. With that, will you please join me in prayer? Our gracious God and Father, we come to you and we pray for your mercy. We ask and pray that you will send the spirit of your Lord Jesus, of our Lord Jesus into our hearts and help us to see better, help us to see Jesus better, that we may know how to follow him in whatever you're calling us to do and be. Have mercy on us this night. and help us to see, we pray in Jesus' name, amen. I find that this is a pair of really remarkable scenes. I love going over scenes in my mind and trying to imagine what is happening. In verse 32 we read, and they were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. We have this picture of Jesus on his way up to Jerusalem with this group of followers who are both amazed and afraid. Why are they amazed and afraid? They know what is waiting for Jesus at the end of this road. Since chapter three, religious elites from Jerusalem have been out to get Jesus. And Jesus has just recently said, oh, by the way, they're soon going to kill me. Do you see why they are afraid? And consider the terrain here. You ever walked up a mountain trail? The trail to Jerusalem is a steep path. It's a real climb. You have enemies at the top and a difficult path to reach them. I think there's every reason here for Jesus to take his sweet time to hang back. But Mark says Jesus is running this last leg of the race like an athlete. He has to be sweating as he sets the pace here. Mark puts him out in front of everybody. He's walking ahead. This is the Greek verb pro-ago. Could you not find his resolve to be the forerunner here to be really amazing? And that's what Mark is highlighting. Jesus' commitment to be the forerunner of his people. Because Mark will use the same verb for walking ahead, proago, again in chapter 14, verse 28, after the Lord's supper. And then to conclude his gospel in the very last verse, chapter 16, verse seven. Both times he's describing Jesus going ahead of his people after his resurrection. That is why we celebrate Easter. Jesus coming and clearing a path for us that we might enter into eternal life. That for the joy set before him, Jesus endured frost, despising its shame, that he might reach glory and open a way for us to follow him, to escape the grave. Beloved, drive by the cemeteries and look at those gravestones that testify you are going to die. fill up year after year with our loved ones as they join the ranks of the departed. And then look with amazement at the displaced stone, that displaced stone that reveals an empty tomb, an empty grave that proclaims it could not hold our Lord Jesus. He is the death conqueror. Death is no longer the final chapter for you if you are following Jesus. I'm really happy that I don't have to stand up here and proclaim your best life now. I get to proclaim to people that I love, who I know are gonna die, good news, we have a forerunner on his way, that we're on our way to glory. He is risen. So on your last day, like one lady in our church, You can fix your eyes on the better rock and you can pray. While I draw this fleeting breath, when my eyes shall close in death, when I rise to worlds unknown and behold thee on thy throne, rock of ages cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee. And Jesus will surely hear you and answer this desire. because he loved you all the way to the cross and conquered death for you. And that's what he's explaining here to his disciples who don't see too well in verses 33 and 34. Jesus says to them, see, we're going up to Jerusalem and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes. and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him and flog him and kill him. And after three days, he will rise." Imagine being a disciple and Jesus calling a timeout and calling you to huddle up here to tell you this. Jesus gives here the most graphic picture yet of the horrific torture, all the shame that he is facing. These disciples hear that their friend is going to be mocked, spit on, flogged, and then killed. You'd think there'd be 12 hearts filled with great sadness and sympathy. The next thing we read is that Jesus' pain is the furthest thing from some people's minds. James and John, they got personal power and glory on their minds, so they approach Jesus playing one of those little children's games, you know, a scheme they cooked up to eliminate any chance that Jesus will say no. Hey, teacher, promise to give us something, and then we'll surprise you after what it is. Really, James? Really, John, are you that insensitive? Jesus just told you he's about to go through hell and die. And right now, all you can think about is how you're going to benefit from this. These two seem to have got over their amazement and their fear pretty quickly, and it's not just them. But the other 10 hear about it and they get mad, and it's not because they're saying, John and James, you're being so inconsiderate. No, they're mad because James and John got to Jesus first with what they wanted too. That's why Jesus has to call all 12 around to reorient them. And if you're shaking your head, I hope it's because you see that we're more alike than we are different. How many times have you discovered a new reason to love Jesus? And five minutes later, your mind has wandered to, what am I gonna get out of this? You ever prayed thanking God for the blood of Jesus that has cleansed you from every guilty stain, and in the very next breath moved on to, and I want you to do whatever you ask for me, whatever I ask of you. James and John, they certainly bring an inappropriate petition to Jesus, and I would expect Jesus to blow his top here. I would, but he doesn't. Jesus says in verse 36, what do you want me to do for you? There is no rebuke here. Jesus invites them to share their desires, and they gladly do. Grant us to sit one at your right hand and one on your left in your glory. They want Jesus to make them top dogs in his glory. These fellas have some serious pluck, don't you think? Showing not one iota of sympathy about the price Jesus has to pay. They're trying to set up tents outside the ticket window so they can get the best seats. This is clearly not their best moment. But Jesus takes kindly to their request because they're starting to get it. You see, they're coming to him. Back in chapter nine, right after Jesus scolded them for not praying, Jesus predicted his coming passion. And Mark notes how the disciples were afraid and wouldn't ask him anything. But instead, they start arguing with one another about who is the greatest. And when Jesus asked them what they're arguing about, they had nothing to say again. But after this passion prediction, notice once again they have greatness on their minds, but this time James and John make a beeline right to Jesus. They listen to Jesus, what he said earlier, and they become like little children to whom the kingdom belongs. Sure, they're more childish here than they are childlike, but the point is they're bringing their desires to Jesus. And look at their faith. They believe Jesus will establish his kingdom. And they're convinced that there are positions that are going to need to be filled, despite the really strange way Jesus plans to win by losing. Of course, the greatness they have in mind is selfish and misguided, but Jesus is glad they ask so he can now explain to them what they're missing. Jesus says, let's talk about true greatness. And then he holds before them the cross. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? The cup Jesus is referring to has a lot of Old Testament references. Psalm 75 8 says, For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup with foaming wine well mixed and he pours out from it and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs. Isaiah 51, Jeremiah 25 also speak of this cup of God's wrath which He will pour out upon the wicked. This cup is the same one Jesus will ask His Father to take away in chapter 14. Jesus asked James and John if they can drink of this chalice. And baptism here speaks to God's judgment as well. As the people in Noah's day and Pharaoh's army were washed away, Jesus is going to be overwhelmed at the baptism of the cross. And Jesus asked them if they can endure this. These plucky disciples say with one mind, we are able. We confronted this because we know that they're going to prove to be cowards. It'll be two thieves at Jesus' right and his left hand. And I want us to appreciate they are pledging themselves to follow their pattern, their lives after Jesus. They're pledging themselves to pattern their lives after Christ. They have moved towards Jesus to figure out how can we fit into your kingdom, which Jesus rewards by assuring them with a promise that they will. Jesus promises that they will share in his sufferings, they will. James is martyred in Acts 12. John, as we heard about this morning, will suffer on the Isle of Patmos. And Paul, he grabs ahold of this promise in Colossians 1.24 when he says, he rejoices in his suffering and his flesh is filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions. Now Paul is in no way lessening what Christ accomplished at Calvary, but he is saying that the Christian is called to share in Christ's pain and in its meaning. Bearing the cross is pattering your life after Jesus. To do otherwise, think about it, to live for comfort, to live for indulgence, would be to mock Jesus, to mock the cross, would be to say that Jesus' way to glory was wrong, we've got something better, or that he missed the glory here. But if you pledge yourself to Jesus, if you have been baptized as we saw this morning, if you partake of the cup that we had this morning, these become a blessing to you as you're no longer under God's wrath. And you can rejoice because you're joined to the suffering Savior who entered into the life to come. So Jesus then tells James and John that he cannot grant their desires. But to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared. That decision was already made long ago. There's an important lesson that they and we can learn here. Prayer is about bringing your desires but is also about handing your life, control of your life over to God. It's learning to trust and be content that God's plans are best. Now the other disciples, they get wind of this request and they are upset. You see, their vision is equally blurry to how the kingdom of God works. So Jesus actually meets them where they're at with what they do see very clearly, our world. You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them and their great ones exercise authority over them. but it shall not be so among you. For whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. Jesus says, you know how the world's leaders have operated throughout history, right? And the word here for Gentiles, ethne, does not necessarily exclude Jewish leaders. Jesus says, you're quite familiar with Rome, right, and how they exercise their authority over you? How about Greece? How about Babylon? How about your own kings who have used their political sway? How do they control people? They stay at the top by flexing their muscles to keep others down. But guess what? It's not going to be that way with you. That top-down model is not how the kingdom of God works. It's not how grace works. You have to stop thinking in terms of worldly leadership models and start believing something better has arrived in my person and start living that way. Jesus is basically saying the old way is not working, that's why I came. Is that something we need to hear today? Anybody else notice how much talk and concern there is about political leaders right now? In my hometown, all the talk is about who will be the next mayor. In this county, it's all about whether there's a local mayor who can fix all the things they think our current president is screwing up. And you cannot escape the daily anger as these two parties attack each other politically and publicly all the time. Our government seems as divided as it was in the Civil War. And hardly anyone will budge an inch, as if all our hopes depend on them. Their pride, their power seeking would be shameful if we weren't just so used to it. Black hats, white hats on everybody as each side screams how they can put the world right. Jesus says what should be plainly so obvious to us. Guess what? We still end up with a new set of sinners every time a new set of humans come out on top. In the light of our ugly day, I wanna say thank you, Jesus, for giving us a better and a lasting kingdom we can look forward to. Beloved, the cross, it undermines worldly power, worldly pride. Kingdom of God leaders will be different because they'll be known for patient service. Jesus says, first, they ought to be servants. And the Greek here is diakonos. Servant here does not mean maid or butler. It means having a position of service, like that of a minister or an emissary to a lord or to a master. That's why Paul designates diakonos, deacons, to be in office of the church. And following their previous argument in the last chapter about who is the greatest, Jesus had essentially told them the same thing. He said, if anyone would be first, he must be last of all, and deacon, servant of all. This sort of servant leadership, it's not new to the disciples' ears. And I think the diakonos title, actually, it would be somewhat respectable, not too bad. But the next thing, I think it really flips them. Jesus adds, they must be slave of all. Slave of all. James and John wanted places that were first in his kingdom, and Jesus said, you have to go down as far as you can possibly. You must become a doulos in the Greek, a slave, so that every aspect of your life is determined by the will of another. You have to willingly die to self and live for others. And Jesus says all. In his kingdom, you are everyone's slave. No person is too lowly for you to serve. Do you hear our King's heart to love those who are most lowly, at least in our eyes? Which means today we should see this among church leaders and among all his disciples. But sadly too often this is not the case when the world sees the church. They see we are prone to go back to the top down model of the world and become insensitive to those we deem lowly. I met Diane Langberg a few years back at Pastor John's Church in Philadelphia. Diane's a Christian counselor who travels globally and counsels trauma victims. She wrote a book called Suffering and the Heart of God. And she talks in it about how easily Christians can grow numb to God's heart for those who are lowly. Chapter 1 begins with her describing a trip she made to Ghana, to Cape Coast Castle, one of about 40 slave castles on the African coast. She writes, hundreds of thousands of Africans were forced through its dungeons and through the door of no return onto slave ships. There were five dungeon chambers for males and descending into the darkness to one of those dungeons felt claustrophobic. 200 men shackled and chained together lived in that dungeon for about three months before being shipped across the Atlantic. We stood in one of the male dungeons, listening in the darkness to the whole horrific story when our guide said this, do you know what's above this dungeon? Our heads shook. The chapel. Directly above 200 shackled men, some of them dead, others screaming, all of them sitting in filth, sat God worshipers. They sang, they read the scripture, They prayed, and I suppose they took up an offering for those who were less fortunate. The slaves could hear the service, and the worshipers could sometimes hear the slaves, though there were those making them behave so as not to disturb church. Our guide pointed up to the church above and said, heaven above, hell below. Diane said it took her breath away. Does that shock you? Can you imagine sitting in worship and hearing the groans of dying slaves below your feet? How could a pastor faithfully preach a text like tonight? How could the deacons pass a plate and tell folks they're helping the poor? More, how could anyone think that God was pleased with this worship? The same God who heard the cries of the slaves in Egypt and came down. This chapel was not heaven looking down on hell, it was hell set upon hell. This shows that you're not taking the gospel in if the gospel is not actually pouring out of our lives. That when we discover God's love, his amazing love for us, we're called to extend it to others. like He did for you and me, as Jesus tells us about in verse 45. For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. Jesus, the Son of Man, from the heavenly scene in Daniel 7, came down into our hell to become the suffering servant of, you find in Isaiah, Jesus is actually quoting the servant language from Isaiah 53, 10 to 12, because he poured out his life unto death and was numbered with the transgressors for he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors. Jesus was on his throne in the midst of heavenly worship like we can't imagine. And he left his greatness to enter into our dungeon to give his life as a ransom for many. And the idea behind ransom is not our notion of paying kidnappers who have grabbed hold of some innocent. Ransom here is about buying freedom for a slave, for a convicted criminal, for a prisoner of war. Those being ransomed by Jesus are not innocents. that Jesus says we must be ransomed means we are worse off than we think. Beloved, the gospel is bad news first. We are filthy slaves in the dungeon. One of the worst lies I have heard in Christian churches is that we are all okay. People are basically good. And if we are all okay, the gospel is not very good news. Of course God loves us. We're pretty great after all. No, from heaven's perspective, we are not pretty great. We're not a pretty sight. Even after Jesus sets us free, we're still prone to shackle ourselves again and return to the filth. At the drop of a hat, we can become insensitive and self-seeking like James and John. When you're called to serve someone, be honest. How often do you feel a groan in your heart? When you're called to stoop and help someone, do you feel that in your heart, trying to bind you up? That pride that screams out, you're above that, you don't need to do that. That's the slave master's sin, who wants to tie you up and keep you from loving people. Jesus is saying to his disciples, I came down to ransom captives like you. James, do you see you're grasping for worldly glory? Shows that you're in bondage to sin. John, do you see your insensitivity to my suffering? Shows that you're a slave to selfishness. Children, you're bickering over stuff. That is sin trying to make you a slave. Teenagers, your desire for others' approval is an enemy trying to handcuff you. Adults, your desire for wealth, for status, that is a chain trying to slip itself around your neck. But in mercy, Jesus came to set us free, taking the form of a doulos, a slave, Philippians 2, entering into our dungeon and dying in our stead to redeem us. so that we can follow Him and attain to the resurrection, resurrection glory, real glory. That's why Jesus says that if even He as the Son of Man must become a humble slave, how much more must they as disciples do the same? We're called to go down into the dirt like Christ in order to be raised up in glory. There must be a crucifixion in our own lives. A dying to everything that seeks self-glory. A taking up of the cross that is governed by love of God and love of neighbor. Jesus is saying to disciples who are longing for greatness, you're right, I do have positions available in my kingdom. So let me rule your heart instead of those desires that want to ensnare you. Consider who I am and what I'm doing for you and imitate me. Hear my words and learn to see me rightly so that you can see yourself rightly. Or hear my words and see yourself rightly so you can see me rightly. If you take up that posture, I will lead you to glory. It's a promise. That's exactly what we see in the closing scene, the healing of blind Bartimaeus. This is actually the final healing we find in the Gospel of Mark, which does make it stand out. But more, this fellow is also named, making Bartimaeus the only person who gets healed who is named. Why is Bartimaeus named here? I think it's because God is trying to show us his heart for the least of these. To show us that his kingdom subverts the world's view of greatness. In the kingdom of God, blind Bartimaeus is of supreme importance. We're told in verse 46, there's a great crowd that's all around Jesus, but only a blind beggar is seen in the rolling credits after this scene is over. Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, recorded in history for all times, and we are hearing him 2,000 years later. We read how he hears Jesus is passing by, and he begins to cry out, Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me. Do you see his posture? He is blind and yet he sees Jesus so clearly. He's actually the only person in Mark who acknowledges Jesus to be David's heir. And he sees himself quite clearly. Have mercy, I deserve nothing. He knows that he cannot do anything to solve his problem, to change his condition, he can't even get to Jesus. And sadly, some followers of Jesus here, they act like the worshippers at Cape Coast Castle. They hear a blind beggar's cries for help and they get angry. They try to get him to shut up because he's ruining their time with Jesus. Shut up, blind beggar. Jesus is in a hurry and He has no time for the likes of you. Blind Bartimaeus, he's undeterred. He's not bound by people's approval here, is he? No, he cries out all the louder, Son of David, have mercy on me. Here is the prayer posture we ought to have. Relentless, undeterred, even when it seems like our prayers aren't heard. Admitting our helpless estate and acknowledging Jesus is King and the only one who can help us. Suddenly, Bartimaeus. Most remarkable moment in his life, he discovers his prayer has been heard. Some people begin to speak in his ear that Jesus has stopped and is calling him over. Jesus is calling him over. Verse 49, take heart, get up, he is calling you. And that's my job tonight, to tell you to take heart, get up, that's resurrection language by the way, arise, Jesus is calling you. your desires, your longings. Jesus wants you to bring it all to him. Three times in this verse, by the way, Jesus, Mark highlights the verb calling to show us Jesus is calling to himself needy souls. And don't wait. Look at Bartimaeus. This man is in darkness, but he throws off his cloak and runs to Jesus. He's not worried about tripping over anything. He throws off his old life. And we need to be ready to throw off our old life, to leave all to follow Jesus when he calls. Actually, earlier in this chapter, a young man walked away from Jesus because he could not part with his great wealth. He was a slave to it and it dragged him away. But not Bartimaeus, this blind man who sees his true needs so clearly. And Jesus asks him, A wonderful question. What do you want me to do for you? What do you want me to do for you? Bartimaeus says, Rabbi, let me recover my sight. And Jesus repeats what he once said to a woman with an issue of blood. Go your way. Your faith has made you well. Or rather, your faith has saved you, as I would translate this. Your faith has saved you. This man came in faith, just like that woman. And guess what? He gets far more than he asked for. Bartimaeus immediately covers his sight, and he followed Jesus on the way. He followed him on the way, which is a fitting way for any disciple to end his story. And the disciples see in this picture the goal of the gospel, how a clear-sighted faith in Jesus, person and work, results in total healing, both body and soul. And this would be encouraging for disciples who are not yet seeing very clearly. Encouragement to continue to come to Jesus with open hearts. And I pray as encouragement to you as you get ready to go on the way. Remember those last two diagnostic questions at the beginning of our sermon. Do you bring to Jesus all the things that are on your heart? Are you crying out to him, believing that he hears and answers? You should. You should. And I'll close with one more question from our larger catechism. Question number 180. What is it to pray in the name of Christ? To pray in the name of Christ is in obedience to His command and in confidence on His promises to ask mercy for His sake, not by bare mentioning of His name, but by drawing our encouragement to pray and our boldness, strength, and hope of acceptance in prayer from Christ and His mediation. We must never lose how all our prayers are bound up in the mediation of our dear Lord Jesus. So you can leave here tonight confident that you can bring all your deepest desires to God and believe He is far able to do more than you could ever ask or think or imagine. Praying in the name of Christ is a wonderful mystery. perhaps the greatest mystery, the greatest mystery of all, because it allows sinners who come with deficient desires to come into the presence of the Holy Father of lights and know we are accepted. We must never lose how all our prayers are bound up in the mediation of Jesus Christ. For by his resurrection, Christ has entered into the heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Beloved, remember who you are and who you belong to. Amen. Let us pray. Oh, what manner of love is this, Holy Father, that we should be called your children, and such we are. And we thank you for sending our Lord Jesus, who underwent the cursed death of the cross, and freely paid for all of our sins, ransoming us who are helpless, who had no hope. And we have no hope apart from you, Lord Jesus. So we thank you for how you extended your arms in love on the hardwood of the cross, that all of us might come within your saving embrace. And I ask and pray you will so clothe us with your spirit May we walk out of here and extend our arms in love towards those who are needy and helpless. Lord Jesus, we know you died for many, and you're now seated in glory, and that's what we long for and we look forward to. I ask and pray that you'll help us to desire bigger things as we leave this place, and help us to desire bigger things for others. There's a lost world before our eyes. Help us to see clearly who you are and what you're calling us to do. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.