WEBVTT 00:00:00.540 --> 00:00:06.400 Lord, we ask that you would bless us, bless our minds, bless our ears, bless our hearts, 00:00:06.660 --> 00:00:12.160 so that we may hear you and understand, and that our hearts will be turned towards you. 00:00:12.780 --> 00:00:16.480 Lord, we thank you for this gospel reading. 00:00:17.240 --> 00:00:20.440 And Lord, we ask that you would meet us this morning, 00:00:20.980 --> 00:00:24.699 that we would encounter the living God through your word. 00:00:24.780 --> 00:00:27.120 In Jesus' mighty name, amen. 00:00:27.120 --> 00:00:33.240 So I've been listening to the Revolutions podcast for some time now. 00:00:33.719 --> 00:00:37.140 I don't know if anybody's listened to this podcast. It's excellent. 00:00:38.780 --> 00:00:43.920 It's this guy named Mike Duncan who started out with a podcast on the history of Rome, 00:00:43.980 --> 00:00:47.219 and somehow it just snowballed into a career. 00:00:47.400 --> 00:00:54.020 And he is actually just wrapping up season 10 of 10 seasons on various revolutions. 00:00:54.020 --> 00:00:55.760 So he started with the English Revolution. 00:00:55.759 --> 00:01:00.140 He's finishing on the Russian Revolution. 00:01:01.099 --> 00:01:03.799 So I've listened to like four seasons. 00:01:04.060 --> 00:01:06.299 I'm tracking with him for this Russian Revolution. 00:01:07.159 --> 00:01:10.099 And it seems like the most common thread in all of this, 00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:14.420 I mean, apart from there actually being a revolution in each season, 00:01:14.500 --> 00:01:16.259 because that's what the podcast is about, 00:01:16.840 --> 00:01:20.219 is that leaders are really bad at leading. 00:01:20.219 --> 00:01:21.599 They are. 00:01:22.280 --> 00:01:26.140 And they lead in such a way that never seems to put their people first, 00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:34.439 but it seems to lead in such a way to make their coffers shine a bit more brightly with more gold, 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:36.599 or expand their land, 00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:44.500 to tax people in such a way that leaves them destitute, 00:01:44.500 --> 00:01:47.920 to have this big ego trip, 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:49.659 to conquer the world, 00:01:49.659 --> 00:01:53.099 and it's at the expense of just regular people 00:01:53.099 --> 00:02:02.599 who are just trying to live a regular life. 00:02:02.599 --> 00:02:06.659 Appreciate that, guys. 00:02:08.539 --> 00:02:10.539 And you know, these leaders, 00:02:10.799 --> 00:02:12.500 they don't show compassion to their people. 00:02:12.919 --> 00:02:14.259 They seem to show contempt. 00:02:14.259 --> 00:02:17.979 Let's keep that in the back of our mind 00:02:17.979 --> 00:02:21.259 as we continue to explore the ministry of Jesus 00:02:21.259 --> 00:02:24.299 as we wrap up Mark chapter 1 this week. 00:02:24.859 --> 00:02:25.679 So a bit of a recap, 00:02:25.859 --> 00:02:26.439 if you weren't here, 00:02:26.539 --> 00:02:27.439 if you forget, 00:02:27.899 --> 00:02:28.479 no problem. 00:02:28.620 --> 00:02:29.879 Jesus returns from the wilderness. 00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:33.500 After Jesus gets baptized, 00:02:33.879 --> 00:02:35.840 he goes to the wilderness. 00:02:36.299 --> 00:02:38.739 He returns from the wilderness to the Galilee region, 00:02:38.840 --> 00:02:42.219 which is kind of like in the north part of what is today Israel. 00:02:42.219 --> 00:02:46.180 And he begins his ministry by proclaiming the gospel of God. 00:02:47.780 --> 00:02:49.960 And we learned last week that the gospel 00:02:49.960 --> 00:02:53.699 isn't just this kind of interesting good news 00:02:53.699 --> 00:02:56.139 that kind of gets us out of hell and gets us to heaven, 00:02:56.219 --> 00:02:57.759 but it's actually Jesus himself. 00:02:58.500 --> 00:03:00.680 And the implications of the gospel 00:03:00.680 --> 00:03:05.259 are that the kingdom is at hand, 00:03:06.039 --> 00:03:07.800 and that the kingdom of God 00:03:07.800 --> 00:03:10.479 comes against the kingdom of this world, 00:03:10.479 --> 00:03:11.539 the kingdom of evil. 00:03:12.219 --> 00:03:14.580 And we start to see goodness 00:03:14.580 --> 00:03:18.960 and humanity flourish in the way that God intended, 00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:20.060 at the core of which 00:03:20.060 --> 00:03:22.479 is that we get to have this relationship with God 00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:23.960 once again that was lost in the garden. 00:03:24.680 --> 00:03:27.639 So that is a bit of the recap. 00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:29.120 In our scripture portion this week, 00:03:29.620 --> 00:03:32.960 after Jesus calls his first disciples, 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:38.460 we start to see a number of miracles that happen. 00:03:38.700 --> 00:03:40.420 And they're done in rapid fire succession. 00:03:40.540 --> 00:03:44.659 In fact, from this section all the way to the beginning of chapter 3, 00:03:45.140 --> 00:03:48.159 it is a rapid fire of Jesus 00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:51.360 either healing somebody or doing some kind of miracle 00:03:51.360 --> 00:03:54.960 or commanding nature in this supernatural way. 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:57.320 So in this section, 00:03:57.320 --> 00:03:57.920 in this section, 00:03:58.320 --> 00:04:00.000 Jesus casts out a demon, 00:04:00.420 --> 00:04:01.780 he heals a sick woman, 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:03.860 he heals a whole group of people, 00:04:04.340 --> 00:04:07.460 and then he heals another demon-possessed man 00:04:07.460 --> 00:04:10.219 before he cures somebody of leprosy. 00:04:10.219 --> 00:04:13.340 So it's a very, very quick, 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:16.680 intense portion of scripture. 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:20.500 And one of the things that helps us to read this portion better 00:04:20.500 --> 00:04:22.920 is to see what Jesus does 00:04:22.920 --> 00:04:25.379 and see how people are reacting to him. 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:30.500 So it's really important that we understand what Jesus says, 00:04:30.839 --> 00:04:32.620 but really Mark is drawing our attention 00:04:32.620 --> 00:04:34.680 more so to what Jesus does. 00:04:34.680 --> 00:04:40.300 So the first thing we'll get into this section, 00:04:40.699 --> 00:04:41.740 starting in verse 21, 00:04:41.939 --> 00:04:45.259 is we're going to see that Jesus enters a synagogue 00:04:45.259 --> 00:04:46.540 and he begins to teach. 00:04:47.920 --> 00:04:50.519 He is proclaiming the gospel message. 00:04:50.680 --> 00:04:52.199 So we remember the gospel message 00:04:52.199 --> 00:04:56.379 that Jesus is proclaiming in verse 14 and 15 in chapter 1. 00:04:57.040 --> 00:04:58.680 And here Jesus is proclaiming, 00:04:59.060 --> 00:05:01.960 it's implied that he's proclaiming that gospel message once again. 00:05:02.780 --> 00:05:04.660 So, verse 21, it says this, 00:05:05.319 --> 00:05:08.620 And they, Jesus and his disciples, went into Capernaum, 00:05:08.939 --> 00:05:10.439 and immediately on the Sabbath, 00:05:10.720 --> 00:05:13.040 he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 00:05:14.259 --> 00:05:17.259 And it's really important that we understand that 00:05:17.259 --> 00:05:20.340 before all these miracles go down, 00:05:20.540 --> 00:05:25.240 before all of this incredible supernatural things begin to happen, 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:26.860 Jesus, he teaches. 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:29.160 And he is proclaiming the gospel. 00:05:29.240 --> 00:05:31.360 It's never lost on Jesus. 00:05:31.480 --> 00:05:32.879 Even though the miracles come, 00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:35.279 he is there to proclaim the gospel. 00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:37.699 And he teaches it. 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:38.639 He proclaims it. 00:05:38.699 --> 00:05:39.459 He preaches it. 00:05:39.719 --> 00:05:40.600 And we see this again, 00:05:40.680 --> 00:05:41.879 because in verse 38, 00:05:43.240 --> 00:05:45.860 Jesus goes away in the early morning to pray. 00:05:46.719 --> 00:05:51.300 And this is after a bit of time healing people. 00:05:51.639 --> 00:05:53.000 And his disciples come to get him. 00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:58.300 And it seems like his disciples are just wanting to ride this excitement. 00:05:59.259 --> 00:06:00.639 Like, Jesus is getting notoriety. 00:06:00.819 --> 00:06:02.360 People are pretty excited about him. 00:06:02.439 --> 00:06:03.259 He's doing miracles. 00:06:03.480 --> 00:06:04.319 His fame is spreading. 00:06:04.920 --> 00:06:07.560 And they are going to get him, 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:09.079 like, let's keep this up. 00:06:09.079 --> 00:06:11.399 And what does Jesus say in verse 38? 00:06:14.359 --> 00:06:15.759 Jesus says to his disciples, 00:06:16.279 --> 00:06:19.079 let us go on to the next town, 00:06:19.399 --> 00:06:21.300 that I may preach there also. 00:06:21.740 --> 00:06:23.099 And then a very key bit here. 00:06:23.159 --> 00:06:23.439 He says, 00:06:23.599 --> 00:06:25.279 for that is why I came out. 00:06:26.219 --> 00:06:28.879 Jesus is proclaiming the good news of Christ. 00:06:28.979 --> 00:06:29.599 The gospel. 00:06:30.219 --> 00:06:31.579 And that is what he is doing. 00:06:31.579 --> 00:06:33.519 And his preaching, 00:06:33.939 --> 00:06:34.680 interestingly, 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:37.959 is connected to his divine authority. 00:06:39.579 --> 00:06:43.899 That Jesus isn't some Messiah figure 00:06:43.899 --> 00:06:44.860 that's a bit of a poser. 00:06:45.459 --> 00:06:48.579 He's not this faith healer, so to speak, 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:50.819 that just shows up and does a little abracadabra. 00:06:51.799 --> 00:06:52.740 He has authority. 00:06:52.939 --> 00:06:53.779 And how do we know this? 00:06:53.899 --> 00:06:56.579 Well, let's go back to verse 21 to 28. 00:06:58.180 --> 00:07:00.459 Jesus enters the synagogue with his disciples 00:07:00.459 --> 00:07:01.180 and was teaching. 00:07:01.180 --> 00:07:01.980 Verse 22. 00:07:02.680 --> 00:07:04.900 And they, the people in the synagogue, 00:07:05.180 --> 00:07:06.740 were astonished at his teaching, 00:07:07.079 --> 00:07:09.600 for he taught them as one with authority 00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:10.980 and not as the scribes. 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:12.900 And that's not some kind of hit against the scribes. 00:07:13.500 --> 00:07:15.019 It is just saying that 00:07:15.019 --> 00:07:16.600 this is something they haven't seen. 00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:20.480 Even the authority and prestige 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:23.899 of the top of the religious establishment, 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:27.439 Jesus' authority is well above that. 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:31.240 And it's interesting that this authority 00:07:31.240 --> 00:07:32.699 is a divine authority. 00:07:32.920 --> 00:07:34.319 And Jesus preaches. 00:07:34.420 --> 00:07:36.300 How do we know that it's some kind of divine authority? 00:07:36.420 --> 00:07:36.879 Because it's, 00:07:37.540 --> 00:07:39.399 the people react and they recognize 00:07:39.399 --> 00:07:40.259 there's some kind of authority, 00:07:40.379 --> 00:07:41.439 but something else happens. 00:07:41.899 --> 00:07:43.420 If you look down in verse 23, 00:07:43.420 --> 00:07:45.199 And immediately, 00:07:45.640 --> 00:07:47.300 there was in their synagogue 00:07:47.300 --> 00:07:49.340 a man with an unclean spirit. 00:07:50.140 --> 00:07:51.040 And he cried out, 00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:53.140 What have you to do with us, 00:07:53.300 --> 00:07:54.420 Jesus of Nazareth? 00:07:54.720 --> 00:07:56.640 Have you come to destroy us? 00:07:56.639 --> 00:07:58.039 I know who you are, 00:07:58.120 --> 00:07:59.759 the Holy One of God. 00:08:01.860 --> 00:08:03.879 Jesus' divine authority, 00:08:04.079 --> 00:08:06.599 his divine proclaiming of the gospel, 00:08:07.180 --> 00:08:08.779 that God himself has come 00:08:08.779 --> 00:08:10.519 to make all wrongs right, 00:08:11.379 --> 00:08:13.219 it doesn't sit well with somebody 00:08:13.219 --> 00:08:14.180 with an unclean spirit. 00:08:15.560 --> 00:08:17.800 That this unclean spirit 00:08:17.800 --> 00:08:20.199 that is possessing this person 00:08:20.199 --> 00:08:21.459 has power, 00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:22.959 has some kind of authority. 00:08:23.519 --> 00:08:24.560 But it's very clear 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:26.019 that the authority pales 00:08:26.019 --> 00:08:27.160 in comparison to Jesus. 00:08:28.519 --> 00:08:30.839 This person who has the demon, 00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:32.059 the demons cry out, 00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:34.200 recognizing who Jesus is. 00:08:34.419 --> 00:08:36.139 Jesus, he shuts them up 00:08:36.139 --> 00:08:37.519 really quickly. 00:08:38.919 --> 00:08:41.120 And how does he cast out this demon? 00:08:41.940 --> 00:08:43.120 Is it this conjuring? 00:08:43.299 --> 00:08:46.500 Is this kind of reverse hex 00:08:46.500 --> 00:08:49.100 or some kind of weird magic trick? 00:08:49.179 --> 00:08:52.179 It's simply speaking. 00:08:52.379 --> 00:08:53.299 In verse 25, 00:08:53.299 --> 00:08:54.719 but Jesus rebukes him, 00:08:55.439 --> 00:08:55.719 saying, 00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:57.219 be silent and come out of him. 00:08:57.399 --> 00:08:59.159 There's no back and forth, 00:08:59.240 --> 00:09:01.819 there's no kind of swords being drawn. 00:09:02.099 --> 00:09:03.799 Jesus speaks and it is done. 00:09:04.219 --> 00:09:05.179 And the unclean spirit, 00:09:05.259 --> 00:09:06.019 verse 26, 00:09:06.959 --> 00:09:07.759 convulsing him 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:09.059 and crying out with a loud voice, 00:09:09.139 --> 00:09:09.740 came out of him. 00:09:10.379 --> 00:09:11.159 And they, 00:09:11.319 --> 00:09:12.120 everybody at the synagogue, 00:09:12.359 --> 00:09:13.120 were all amazed 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:14.219 so that they questioned 00:09:14.219 --> 00:09:15.139 among themselves, 00:09:15.319 --> 00:09:15.599 saying, 00:09:15.919 --> 00:09:16.819 what is this? 00:09:16.899 --> 00:09:18.859 A new teaching with authority. 00:09:19.319 --> 00:09:21.599 He commands even the unclean spirits, 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:22.800 and they obey him. 00:09:22.860 --> 00:09:23.379 And at once, 00:09:23.740 --> 00:09:24.860 his fame spread everywhere 00:09:24.860 --> 00:09:26.879 throughout all the surrounding region 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:28.060 of the Galilee. 00:09:28.700 --> 00:09:32.139 Jesus has this divine authority. 00:09:33.420 --> 00:09:35.960 He has this spiritual authority, 00:09:36.060 --> 00:09:38.019 this supernatural authority. 00:09:38.879 --> 00:09:40.060 The good news of God, 00:09:40.500 --> 00:09:41.980 of God, 00:09:42.060 --> 00:09:43.779 who really is God himself, 00:09:43.920 --> 00:09:44.040 right? 00:09:44.100 --> 00:09:45.519 The good news is Jesus. 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:45.639 Jesus, 00:09:46.360 --> 00:09:47.740 it establishes the, 00:09:47.740 --> 00:09:49.799 the byproduct, 00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:50.399 so to speak, 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:52.079 the implications of it, 00:09:52.139 --> 00:09:54.240 is the establishing of God's kingdom 00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:55.059 on earth 00:09:55.059 --> 00:09:58.139 that just comes up against 00:09:58.139 --> 00:10:00.480 the kingdom of Satan, 00:10:00.600 --> 00:10:01.639 the kingdom of this world. 00:10:02.779 --> 00:10:04.220 And it's a no contest affair. 00:10:05.419 --> 00:10:06.039 It is a, 00:10:06.139 --> 00:10:08.240 this isn't some kind of cosmic battle 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:11.159 between angels and demons 00:10:11.159 --> 00:10:12.840 like we'd see in some kind of 00:10:12.840 --> 00:10:14.799 sci-fi or superhero movie. 00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:16.059 It's a done deal. 00:10:17.099 --> 00:10:19.740 It's a no contest at all. 00:10:19.939 --> 00:10:21.319 It is Jesus speaking, 00:10:21.559 --> 00:10:22.319 and it is done. 00:10:24.259 --> 00:10:24.819 So, 00:10:25.240 --> 00:10:27.579 Jesus is the king 00:10:27.579 --> 00:10:30.159 who has come to establish his kingdom, 00:10:30.479 --> 00:10:32.299 and he has divine authority. 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:34.059 And how does he use his divine authority? 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:36.479 Again, 00:10:36.659 --> 00:10:37.599 think back about 00:10:37.599 --> 00:10:39.639 any kind of history. 00:10:39.959 --> 00:10:40.179 I mean, 00:10:40.219 --> 00:10:41.519 I'm thinking of these revolutions 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:43.559 that I've been learning about. 00:10:43.559 --> 00:10:46.219 how do earthly kings, 00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:47.559 even the best ones, 00:10:47.699 --> 00:10:48.419 use their authority? 00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:49.739 I mean, 00:10:49.779 --> 00:10:50.299 at best, 00:10:50.419 --> 00:10:50.559 like, 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:51.279 kind of good, 00:10:51.479 --> 00:10:51.679 like, 00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:53.699 for the flourishing of people, 00:10:53.799 --> 00:10:54.199 but really, 00:10:54.659 --> 00:10:55.339 in some ways, 00:10:55.399 --> 00:10:55.500 like, 00:10:55.539 --> 00:10:56.139 they're making sure 00:10:56.139 --> 00:10:57.239 that they're taken care of. 00:10:57.439 --> 00:10:57.799 Jesus, 00:10:58.019 --> 00:10:59.139 in his divine authority, 00:10:59.699 --> 00:11:00.779 he shows compassion 00:11:00.779 --> 00:11:02.539 on a troubled soul, 00:11:03.079 --> 00:11:04.379 a truly troubled soul. 00:11:04.379 --> 00:11:07.399 he shows compassion 00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:10.299 to rid this person 00:11:10.299 --> 00:11:11.559 of an unclean spirit. 00:11:12.059 --> 00:11:13.000 He doesn't show contempt 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:13.860 to the person. 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:15.539 He doesn't say 00:11:15.539 --> 00:11:17.080 to the person, 00:11:17.659 --> 00:11:18.139 at least, 00:11:18.360 --> 00:11:20.399 it's not in Mark's account here, 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:21.899 but he doesn't say to the person, 00:11:21.980 --> 00:11:22.939 what kind of stuff 00:11:22.939 --> 00:11:23.899 did you get into? 00:11:25.059 --> 00:11:26.159 What kind of things 00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:27.120 were you dabbling in? 00:11:27.159 --> 00:11:28.240 What kind of issues, 00:11:28.700 --> 00:11:28.940 you know, 00:11:28.940 --> 00:11:30.100 do you really have? 00:11:30.659 --> 00:11:31.480 What's your past? 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:33.419 He doesn't say that. 00:11:34.379 --> 00:11:36.519 He sees the troubled person, 00:11:36.599 --> 00:11:37.139 and what does he do? 00:11:37.179 --> 00:11:37.959 He has compassion. 00:11:39.699 --> 00:11:40.819 He has compassion. 00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:43.299 He doesn't put the person 00:11:43.299 --> 00:11:44.539 through some kind of purgatory 00:11:44.539 --> 00:11:45.779 or anything like that. 00:11:47.019 --> 00:11:48.120 He has compassion. 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:50.479 He doesn't show contempt. 00:11:52.279 --> 00:11:53.479 Mark wants us to see 00:11:53.479 --> 00:11:54.879 and know 00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:56.679 the authority of Jesus 00:11:56.679 --> 00:11:58.179 and that it is 00:11:58.179 --> 00:11:59.599 a deeply spiritual one. 00:12:00.860 --> 00:12:02.379 And here's where I'll pause 00:12:02.379 --> 00:12:04.139 in the narrative 00:12:04.139 --> 00:12:06.039 of our section here. 00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:08.139 And just to talk about something, 00:12:08.939 --> 00:12:10.399 if you're sitting here 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:11.679 and there's a bit of like 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:14.120 a question in your brain, 00:12:14.600 --> 00:12:16.320 a little maybe self-talk going on 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:17.340 that's saying like, 00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:20.120 I don't even believe in some kind of, 00:12:20.139 --> 00:12:21.240 like it sounds fanciful. 00:12:21.820 --> 00:12:24.559 Like this spiritual type of situation, 00:12:24.700 --> 00:12:26.700 a supernatural type of world. 00:12:26.700 --> 00:12:28.240 I mean, 00:12:28.300 --> 00:12:29.280 I'm sure you're not alone. 00:12:29.560 --> 00:12:31.280 I struggle with some of this stuff as well. 00:12:32.740 --> 00:12:33.700 For many of us 00:12:33.700 --> 00:12:35.140 in this post-modern 00:12:35.140 --> 00:12:37.300 time in Canada, 00:12:38.220 --> 00:12:39.620 this spiritual world, 00:12:39.700 --> 00:12:40.640 anybody that's talking about 00:12:40.640 --> 00:12:41.920 spirituality, 00:12:42.300 --> 00:12:43.920 it's cool if it's relegated 00:12:43.920 --> 00:12:45.060 to just, 00:12:45.420 --> 00:12:46.160 like that's your thing. 00:12:47.160 --> 00:12:47.960 Enjoy it. 00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:50.139 If that kind of helps you 00:12:50.139 --> 00:12:51.060 to deal with life 00:12:51.060 --> 00:12:52.019 or it kind of, 00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:54.300 it reduces anxiety, 00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:55.900 it gets good. 00:12:56.139 --> 00:12:57.740 Like engage in that kind of stuff. 00:12:58.200 --> 00:12:59.780 It's a very subjective attitude 00:12:59.780 --> 00:13:01.240 that we have towards spirituality. 00:13:01.920 --> 00:13:03.320 We recognize that really, 00:13:03.680 --> 00:13:04.160 in a sense, 00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:04.820 spirituality, 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:06.300 it's kind of, 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:08.139 it's kind of reduced 00:13:08.139 --> 00:13:09.120 to like a therapeutic 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:12.460 type of hobby. 00:13:12.460 --> 00:13:16.420 Maybe I'm not being too kind, 00:13:17.340 --> 00:13:17.560 but, 00:13:17.560 --> 00:13:19.280 and to somehow downplay therapy 00:13:19.280 --> 00:13:20.400 or some therapeutic thing, 00:13:20.420 --> 00:13:21.180 I'm not at all. 00:13:22.340 --> 00:13:22.600 But, 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:24.240 we're cool with the spirituality 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:26.139 if it's your thing, 00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:26.900 if it's subjective. 00:13:27.480 --> 00:13:28.200 But if all of a sudden 00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:29.220 I start talking about 00:13:29.220 --> 00:13:30.820 some kind of spirituality 00:13:30.820 --> 00:13:32.040 that's completely objective 00:13:32.040 --> 00:13:34.940 and that it is a real reality now, 00:13:35.560 --> 00:13:36.500 it's a bit of a problem 00:13:36.500 --> 00:13:37.740 for some folks, 00:13:37.860 --> 00:13:39.120 for our culture at large. 00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:41.680 Like we celebrate, 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:43.899 we enjoy Halloween 00:13:43.899 --> 00:13:45.079 and we put out ghosts 00:13:45.079 --> 00:13:46.039 and stuff like that 00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:46.899 if you're, 00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:48.179 if you celebrate Halloween. 00:13:48.819 --> 00:13:50.000 But nobody's trying to say, 00:13:50.079 --> 00:13:50.419 hey listen, 00:13:50.719 --> 00:13:51.599 like that's a real ghost. 00:13:51.699 --> 00:13:52.299 Like there's some kind of 00:13:52.299 --> 00:13:53.939 real spirituality going on. 00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:56.019 As a culture, 00:13:56.199 --> 00:13:56.979 we're not doing that. 00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:59.199 But I find it very interesting 00:13:59.199 --> 00:14:02.399 that easily 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:04.039 the biggest franchises 00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:05.759 when it comes to entertainment 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:09.099 aren't historical dramas 00:14:09.099 --> 00:14:11.439 or even rom-coms. 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:13.599 But it is science fiction. 00:14:14.299 --> 00:14:15.659 It is superhero genres. 00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:17.459 These larger than life, 00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:21.059 supernatural characters 00:14:21.059 --> 00:14:22.019 that go on. 00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:22.239 I mean, 00:14:22.379 --> 00:14:23.979 billions of dollars are spent, 00:14:24.359 --> 00:14:25.500 I guess were spent 00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:27.439 before the pandemic 00:14:27.439 --> 00:14:28.239 at movie theaters. 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:29.099 Now they're spent, 00:14:29.579 --> 00:14:29.779 you know, 00:14:29.799 --> 00:14:30.439 with subscriptions 00:14:30.439 --> 00:14:32.219 to various kind of like 00:14:32.219 --> 00:14:33.059 Netflix and whatnot. 00:14:33.059 --> 00:14:34.219 but nevertheless, 00:14:34.619 --> 00:14:35.659 billions of dollars 00:14:35.659 --> 00:14:36.339 are spent 00:14:36.339 --> 00:14:38.979 to enjoy a world 00:14:38.979 --> 00:14:40.219 that is not this world. 00:14:41.500 --> 00:14:41.899 And to say, 00:14:41.979 --> 00:14:42.279 well yeah, 00:14:42.339 --> 00:14:43.119 I like entertainment. 00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:44.639 I think as a culture, 00:14:45.219 --> 00:14:48.039 there is this desire to, 00:14:48.599 --> 00:14:48.979 like it, 00:14:49.399 --> 00:14:50.339 we kind of want it 00:14:50.339 --> 00:14:50.939 to be real. 00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:52.799 We kind of want 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:53.919 something to, 00:14:54.059 --> 00:14:55.639 to be real 00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:57.500 about some kind of 00:14:57.500 --> 00:14:58.939 fantasy world 00:14:58.939 --> 00:15:00.439 or sci-fi world. 00:15:00.440 --> 00:15:02.000 And I'm not somehow 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:03.200 trying to say that 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:04.160 like Spider-Man 00:15:04.160 --> 00:15:04.880 or the Hobbits 00:15:04.880 --> 00:15:06.020 really exist somewhere. 00:15:06.560 --> 00:15:06.780 Like, 00:15:07.140 --> 00:15:07.640 good luck. 00:15:07.740 --> 00:15:07.960 Not, 00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:09.480 not saying any of that, 00:15:09.540 --> 00:15:09.820 but that, 00:15:10.580 --> 00:15:10.860 it's, 00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:12.140 it's as if we 00:15:12.140 --> 00:15:13.560 have this desire 00:15:13.560 --> 00:15:15.100 for something 00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:16.160 greater than 00:15:16.160 --> 00:15:17.180 the physical realm. 00:15:17.179 --> 00:15:18.019 that there is 00:15:18.019 --> 00:15:18.439 some kind of 00:15:18.439 --> 00:15:19.139 spiritual realm. 00:15:20.199 --> 00:15:20.639 But that's not 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:21.199 all of Canada. 00:15:21.359 --> 00:15:21.959 There's some people 00:15:21.959 --> 00:15:22.519 that it's like, 00:15:23.079 --> 00:15:23.339 they're, 00:15:23.339 --> 00:15:24.679 they're super into 00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:25.539 some kind of 00:15:25.539 --> 00:15:26.199 spirituality 00:15:26.199 --> 00:15:27.519 where they see 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:28.319 everything as, 00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:29.059 as, 00:15:29.179 --> 00:15:30.759 there's a boogeyman 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:31.739 or a spirit. 00:15:32.319 --> 00:15:33.239 And maybe it's not 00:15:33.239 --> 00:15:34.199 so much folks here. 00:15:34.819 --> 00:15:35.679 I know that 00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:37.479 in the Middle East, 00:15:37.599 --> 00:15:38.159 there's this, 00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:39.799 there's this thing 00:15:39.799 --> 00:15:40.059 that, 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:42.339 it really flavors 00:15:42.339 --> 00:15:43.439 almost everything 00:15:43.439 --> 00:15:45.779 for a huge portion 00:15:45.779 --> 00:15:46.500 of the population. 00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:47.440 It's called the Evil Eye. 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:48.860 I don't know if you guys 00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:49.279 have ever heard of 00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:49.899 the Evil Eye. 00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:51.559 But the Evil Eye, 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:52.440 it's in Judaism, 00:15:52.820 --> 00:15:54.559 it's in Islam, 00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:56.340 it's all over North Africa 00:15:56.340 --> 00:15:57.100 and the Middle East. 00:15:57.659 --> 00:15:58.480 And all of a sudden 00:15:58.480 --> 00:15:59.679 everything is interpreted 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:01.620 through a bit of 00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:02.840 a cosmic battle, 00:16:02.940 --> 00:16:03.419 some kind of 00:16:03.419 --> 00:16:04.799 spiritual back and forth. 00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:06.980 I have family 00:16:06.980 --> 00:16:07.659 in the Middle East 00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:08.519 and they'll wear, 00:16:08.980 --> 00:16:10.080 at least one of them, 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:12.000 wears a medallion 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:12.620 to ward off 00:16:12.620 --> 00:16:13.259 the Evil Eye. 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:15.080 Because if the Evil Eye 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:15.639 hits you, 00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:16.699 game over. 00:16:17.139 --> 00:16:17.639 Like you're going to have 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:18.319 to do some hardcore 00:16:18.319 --> 00:16:19.139 spiritual stuff. 00:16:19.419 --> 00:16:19.779 And again, 00:16:19.819 --> 00:16:20.759 I'm not trying to downplay it, 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:21.539 but this is a reality 00:16:21.539 --> 00:16:22.879 for a lot of people. 00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:24.679 The Bible here 00:16:24.679 --> 00:16:26.059 doesn't somehow 00:16:26.059 --> 00:16:27.699 negate a spiritual realm, 00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:29.039 nor does it talk about 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:30.259 it's the Wild West 00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:31.059 spiritual realm. 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:32.659 That there is most certainly 00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:33.639 a spiritual realm 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:34.679 in the scriptures 00:16:34.679 --> 00:16:35.799 that's talked about 00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:36.299 in Mark 00:16:36.299 --> 00:16:37.899 and the rest of the Bible. 00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:40.179 But make no mistake, 00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:41.580 God and God alone 00:16:41.580 --> 00:16:42.100 has authority 00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:42.740 over everything. 00:16:42.740 --> 00:16:45.639 There isn't a 1A 00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:46.419 and a 1B 00:16:46.419 --> 00:16:47.299 in the spiritual realm. 00:16:47.399 --> 00:16:48.019 There is God 00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:49.139 and there's everything else. 00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:51.240 And this is a case in point 00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:51.799 where God, 00:16:52.180 --> 00:16:53.060 excuse me, 00:16:54.019 --> 00:16:55.899 there's an unclean spirit 00:16:55.899 --> 00:16:58.000 that opposes God's will 00:16:58.000 --> 00:16:59.320 and it's simply 00:16:59.320 --> 00:17:02.200 Jesus with the authority 00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:02.740 to say, 00:17:03.379 --> 00:17:03.960 be gone. 00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:05.500 Be gone. 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:06.759 And it's done. 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:09.559 And this is good news 00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:11.819 because for us, 00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:15.799 some of the things 00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:17.740 that plague us 00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:22.019 are physical conditions. 00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:24.220 They are emotional problems. 00:17:24.660 --> 00:17:26.180 But a lot of it is spiritual. 00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:30.220 There is spiritual realities 00:17:30.220 --> 00:17:32.579 where we are struggling 00:17:32.579 --> 00:17:33.480 and it feels like 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:34.259 there is something 00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:36.059 that is weighing down 00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:37.699 our life. 00:17:37.919 --> 00:17:38.799 That it feels like 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:40.480 I am walking through this life 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:43.159 through thigh-high mud 00:17:43.159 --> 00:17:45.039 and I can't figure it out. 00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:51.599 And the good news is that 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:53.679 God is above it all. 00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:54.859 Jesus is above it all. 00:17:55.220 --> 00:17:56.259 And we can come to Him 00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:57.939 just as we are. 00:17:58.339 --> 00:17:59.199 And He's not going to have 00:17:59.199 --> 00:18:00.480 contempt on us. 00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:01.480 He's going to have 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:02.599 compassion on us. 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.960 And the past is the past. 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:06.120 It is. 00:18:07.099 --> 00:18:08.759 We can't undo the past. 00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:11.599 But we go to God, 00:18:11.900 --> 00:18:12.920 we go to Jesus, 00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:15.019 trusting that the same Jesus 00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:15.900 we see here 00:18:15.900 --> 00:18:16.920 is the same one 00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:17.620 we're going to encounter. 00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:21.380 The first week we talked about this, 00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:22.740 or last week actually, 00:18:23.140 --> 00:18:23.599 that Jesus, 00:18:23.880 --> 00:18:25.279 a part of the gospel message 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:26.660 is to repent and believe, 00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:28.539 this ongoing repenting 00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:29.000 and believing. 00:18:29.099 --> 00:18:30.079 And that's all we need to do. 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:31.539 We come to God, 00:18:31.860 --> 00:18:34.299 I am sorry for what I have done, 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:35.960 I repent of it, 00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:37.640 and I'm throwing myself 00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:38.299 at your mercy. 00:18:38.660 --> 00:18:39.680 He will not turn you away. 00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:41.960 The king with authority 00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:42.779 has compassion, 00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:43.420 not contempt, 00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:44.099 on his people. 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:50.640 So Jesus has authority. 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:51.920 It's very, very clear 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:53.920 in Mark 00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:57.120 over the spiritual realm. 00:18:57.119 --> 00:18:58.599 But also, 00:18:59.119 --> 00:18:59.719 this king, 00:18:59.959 --> 00:19:00.219 Jesus, 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:01.739 is humble. 00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:03.399 What do I mean? 00:19:03.439 --> 00:19:05.099 Three times in this section, 00:19:05.319 --> 00:19:07.479 and we'll see it in other times 00:19:07.479 --> 00:19:08.719 in Mark's gospel. 00:19:10.439 --> 00:19:11.899 Jesus shuts down 00:19:11.899 --> 00:19:14.019 any kind of good publicity. 00:19:14.739 --> 00:19:15.419 He shuts it down. 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:16.179 Verse 25, 00:19:16.739 --> 00:19:17.899 Jesus rebukes 00:19:17.899 --> 00:19:19.519 the demons, 00:19:19.659 --> 00:19:19.739 says, 00:19:19.899 --> 00:19:20.459 be silent 00:19:20.459 --> 00:19:21.239 and come out. 00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:22.200 In verse 34, 00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:23.799 he's healing 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:25.880 those who are sick 00:19:25.880 --> 00:19:26.819 and with various diseases, 00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:28.279 and he casts out many demons, 00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:30.140 and he would not permit 00:19:30.140 --> 00:19:31.059 the demons to speak 00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:32.099 because they knew him. 00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:33.680 And then in verse 43, 00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:35.759 after Jesus cleanses the leper, 00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:36.980 he says, 00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:38.319 it says, 00:19:38.420 --> 00:19:39.880 and Jesus sternly charged him. 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:40.200 And this, 00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:41.319 sternly charge him, 00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:42.400 is a very clean way 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:43.180 of saying, 00:19:43.400 --> 00:19:43.620 like, 00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:44.740 like, 00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:46.000 getting in his face. 00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:47.480 I think the literal word 00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:48.680 is like he snorts at him. 00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:48.839 Like, 00:19:48.859 --> 00:19:49.299 there's this 00:19:49.299 --> 00:19:50.279 kind of, 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:50.500 like, 00:19:50.839 --> 00:19:52.920 aggressive streak in Jesus. 00:19:53.099 --> 00:19:54.660 And he sternly charges 00:19:54.660 --> 00:19:55.680 this young man, 00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:56.279 or this man 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:57.000 who is cleansed 00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:57.839 of leprosy, 00:19:57.960 --> 00:19:58.720 and he said to him, 00:19:58.819 --> 00:20:00.220 see that you say nothing 00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:01.000 to anybody, 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:02.319 to anyone. 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:06.900 There's a lot of commentators 00:20:06.900 --> 00:20:07.339 that, 00:20:08.140 --> 00:20:09.660 they're in fits 00:20:09.660 --> 00:20:10.539 over why. 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:12.680 And there are some 00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:14.740 that look to undermine 00:20:14.740 --> 00:20:16.380 the authority of the Bible 00:20:16.380 --> 00:20:17.120 by saying, 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:17.680 see, 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:18.339 this is proof 00:20:18.339 --> 00:20:19.519 that Jesus never considered 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:20.319 himself divine. 00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:21.579 He never considered himself 00:20:21.579 --> 00:20:23.240 some kind of Messiah figure. 00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:26.519 I would push back 00:20:26.519 --> 00:20:27.059 against that. 00:20:27.140 --> 00:20:28.700 A number of different reasons. 00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:29.660 But one of the reasons 00:20:29.660 --> 00:20:31.000 that I'll bring to your attention 00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:32.740 I think is absolutely stunning. 00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:36.059 Jesus here says, 00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:37.640 be silent in verse 25. 00:20:38.140 --> 00:20:39.059 He doesn't permit 00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:39.960 the demons to speak 00:20:39.960 --> 00:20:40.799 in verse 34. 00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:42.539 See that you say nothing 00:20:42.539 --> 00:20:43.059 to anyone, 00:20:43.380 --> 00:20:43.740 anyone, 00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:45.240 anybody, 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:46.279 in verse 43. 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:48.200 And here, 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:50.240 we have in view, 00:20:50.420 --> 00:20:51.420 Mark has in view, 00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:53.660 that Jesus is fulfilling 00:20:53.660 --> 00:20:55.839 the suffering servant 00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:57.759 person 00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:59.799 that the prophet Isaiah 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:00.480 talks about. 00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:01.720 There's four, 00:21:01.799 --> 00:21:02.359 in Isaiah, 00:21:02.460 --> 00:21:03.440 there's four sections 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:04.720 that talk of 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:05.660 this prophecy 00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:07.460 of this suffering servant 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:08.180 that will come. 00:21:09.120 --> 00:21:11.279 And it's this progressively 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:12.759 revealed person, 00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:14.119 and it kind of culminates 00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:15.079 in Isaiah 53. 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:16.559 It's a very famous chapter 00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:20.259 in Isaiah chapter 53. 00:21:20.359 --> 00:21:20.980 But one thing about 00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:22.319 this suffering servant 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:23.420 who is understood 00:21:23.420 --> 00:21:24.980 to be the Messiah, 00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:26.319 who is God himself, 00:21:26.420 --> 00:21:27.220 is that he is humble. 00:21:28.819 --> 00:21:30.200 He is very humble. 00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:34.119 That he is lowly 00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:35.539 and he is gentle. 00:21:35.539 --> 00:21:36.500 So, 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:38.299 one suffering servant 00:21:38.299 --> 00:21:38.899 passage, 00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:41.059 Isaiah chapter 42, 00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:42.480 verses 2 and 3, 00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:43.099 says this, 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:45.879 speaking of the servant, 00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:47.039 he will not cry aloud 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:48.119 or lift up his voice 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:49.000 or make it heard 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:49.700 in the streets. 00:21:50.420 --> 00:21:52.019 Very famous verse here, 00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:53.019 a bruised reed 00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:53.960 he will not break, 00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:55.839 and a faintly burning wick 00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:56.839 he will not quench. 00:21:57.399 --> 00:21:58.339 He will faithfully 00:21:58.339 --> 00:21:59.639 bring forth justice. 00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:02.240 That his suffering servant 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:03.600 is gentle 00:22:03.600 --> 00:22:04.780 and he's humble 00:22:04.780 --> 00:22:05.980 and he's compassionate. 00:22:07.780 --> 00:22:09.240 But don't mistake it 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:10.160 for weakness. 00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:12.820 It's not weak. 00:22:14.100 --> 00:22:15.460 This is a very beautiful picture 00:22:15.460 --> 00:22:17.180 of a compassionate king. 00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:18.900 Some of you 00:22:18.900 --> 00:22:20.320 who have been at church 00:22:20.320 --> 00:22:20.800 for a while 00:22:20.800 --> 00:22:22.060 might know that there's 00:22:22.060 --> 00:22:22.920 a bit of a reckoning 00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:23.540 happening 00:22:23.540 --> 00:22:24.560 for some 00:22:24.560 --> 00:22:27.080 specifically evangelical 00:22:27.080 --> 00:22:28.000 pastors 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:29.160 that have been bullies. 00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:31.440 that have pushed people around. 00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:33.540 That have not been gentle 00:22:33.540 --> 00:22:34.500 or compassionate. 00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:36.940 Who have not been humble. 00:22:37.900 --> 00:22:39.040 This is not the way of God. 00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:40.259 It is not. 00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:42.180 And for whatever reason, 00:22:42.320 --> 00:22:43.460 we have equated humility 00:22:43.460 --> 00:22:44.820 and gentleness 00:22:44.820 --> 00:22:46.660 with weakness. 00:22:47.900 --> 00:22:49.380 But that's not the case at all. 00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:50.620 I mean, in each case, 00:22:50.800 --> 00:22:51.180 Jesus, 00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:51.720 it's on, 00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:52.620 when he is telling, 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:53.340 be silent, 00:22:53.800 --> 00:22:54.840 permits him not to speak, 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.860 say nothing to anybody. 00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:57.120 He's doing anything 00:22:57.120 --> 00:22:58.240 but being weak. 00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:59.240 He's doing anything 00:22:59.240 --> 00:23:00.359 complete authority 00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:02.000 over anything 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:03.140 that opposes him. 00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:04.980 But he is humble 00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:05.620 and he is weak. 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:06.799 What does he do 00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:08.019 when all of a sudden 00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:09.140 his popularity grows? 00:23:09.539 --> 00:23:10.559 He takes off early 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:11.000 in the morning 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:11.740 and he prays. 00:23:12.620 --> 00:23:13.339 We see this 00:23:13.339 --> 00:23:17.779 in verse 35 and on. 00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:19.000 And rising very early 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:19.539 in the morning 00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:20.680 while it was still dark, 00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:21.539 Jesus departed 00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:22.759 and went out 00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:23.620 to a desolate place 00:23:23.620 --> 00:23:24.480 and there he prayed. 00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:26.279 and then his disciples 00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:26.940 try to get him. 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:27.380 Like, listen, 00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.279 we've got to capitalize 00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:29.220 on this kind of stuff. 00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:31.220 He is humble. 00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:32.960 He's compassionate. 00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:37.180 This is who the king is. 00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:38.960 He doesn't have contempt 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:39.500 for his people. 00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:40.220 He has compassion. 00:23:43.819 --> 00:23:45.059 Jesus becomes a servant 00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:45.579 of all, 00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:46.860 ultimately humbling himself 00:23:46.860 --> 00:23:47.740 to the point of death, 00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:49.779 even death on a cross. 00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:52.759 Isn't it interesting 00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:53.899 that the king 00:23:53.899 --> 00:23:55.319 who is above all kings 00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:57.180 doesn't squeeze 00:23:57.180 --> 00:23:58.539 his subjects 00:23:58.539 --> 00:23:59.879 for every last penny 00:23:59.879 --> 00:24:00.399 they have? 00:24:01.399 --> 00:24:02.680 Doesn't exploit them 00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:04.139 for all of their talents 00:24:04.139 --> 00:24:04.700 and treasures. 00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.279 What does he do? 00:24:06.859 --> 00:24:07.799 He lays down his life 00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:08.099 for them. 00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:13.779 He thinks of their benefit 00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:14.819 at the expense 00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:17.480 of his well-being. 00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:19.920 The humble, 00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:22.880 compassionate king. 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:24.599 And this brings us 00:24:24.599 --> 00:24:26.720 to the last bit. 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:28.799 Jesus cleanses a leper 00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:30.319 and it's remarkable 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:31.559 how little subtleties 00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:33.000 in the text 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:34.819 have just a ton of meaning. 00:24:36.360 --> 00:24:37.660 Jesus heals people 00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:38.500 that are sick, 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:39.799 but for lepers, 00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:40.660 he cleanses them. 00:24:42.180 --> 00:24:42.960 What do I mean? 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:43.759 Take a look with me 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:44.440 in verse 40. 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:45.980 And a leper came to him, 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:46.860 and it's not necessarily 00:24:46.860 --> 00:24:47.339 leprosy, 00:24:47.339 --> 00:24:47.839 it might be. 00:24:48.359 --> 00:24:49.059 There's like something 00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:50.619 like by this time 00:24:50.619 --> 00:24:51.500 when Jesus is on the scene, 00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:52.679 there's something like dozens, 00:24:52.899 --> 00:24:54.059 maybe even more than that. 00:24:54.679 --> 00:24:55.939 Different skin conditions 00:24:55.939 --> 00:24:56.919 that are like 00:24:56.919 --> 00:24:58.379 under the header leprosy. 00:24:59.079 --> 00:25:00.679 And anyways, 00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:01.299 we'll get into that 00:25:01.299 --> 00:25:01.699 in a second. 00:25:02.119 --> 00:25:02.619 Verse 40, 00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:04.000 And a leper came to him, 00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:04.859 imploring him, 00:25:04.919 --> 00:25:05.339 and kneeling, 00:25:05.679 --> 00:25:06.299 said to him, 00:25:06.579 --> 00:25:07.319 If you will, 00:25:07.399 --> 00:25:08.339 you can make me clean. 00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:10.059 How does Jesus respond? 00:25:10.159 --> 00:25:10.679 Move with pity. 00:25:10.679 --> 00:25:11.980 He stretched out his hand 00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:12.579 and touched him 00:25:12.579 --> 00:25:13.259 and said to him, 00:25:13.659 --> 00:25:15.179 I will be clean. 00:25:15.180 --> 00:25:18.000 leprosy meant 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:19.140 you're done. 00:25:19.779 --> 00:25:20.840 You are done. 00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:21.519 You're outside 00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:22.539 of the community. 00:25:23.340 --> 00:25:24.680 You can't be 00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:26.580 a part of normal society. 00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:27.019 There are, 00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:28.000 I mean, 00:25:28.100 --> 00:25:28.519 we call them 00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:29.519 leper colonies today. 00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:30.660 They don't exist 00:25:30.660 --> 00:25:32.620 in North America. 00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:33.640 They still exist 00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:34.460 in parts of the world. 00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:35.580 They existed 00:25:35.580 --> 00:25:36.580 in Jesus' day. 00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:38.560 And to be a leper 00:25:38.560 --> 00:25:39.799 meant to say goodbye 00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:40.500 to your family, 00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:43.559 meant to say goodbye 00:25:43.559 --> 00:25:47.220 to a life of work 00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:48.720 and the dignity 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:49.680 that comes with it. 00:25:50.920 --> 00:25:52.160 And if you were to come 00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:52.859 into a town, 00:25:52.940 --> 00:25:54.279 you had to declare it, 00:25:54.839 --> 00:25:55.819 shouting it, 00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:57.000 and people would flee. 00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:58.960 So this leper 00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:00.079 comes up to Jesus. 00:26:00.599 --> 00:26:03.140 He risks soiling Jesus. 00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:06.539 How does Jesus respond? 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:08.440 He turns to him, 00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:09.019 it says, 00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:10.839 and he is moved 00:26:10.839 --> 00:26:11.339 with pity. 00:26:11.619 --> 00:26:12.819 He stretched out his hand 00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:13.819 and he touched him. 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:14.980 He touched him. 00:26:17.799 --> 00:26:18.799 The untouchable 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:19.519 gets touched. 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:22.139 And it doesn't say 00:26:22.139 --> 00:26:22.819 that he had pity, 00:26:23.059 --> 00:26:23.779 but he was like, 00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:24.319 all right, 00:26:24.359 --> 00:26:25.339 he girded up his loins, 00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:25.920 so to speak, 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:26.460 and kind of took 00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:27.420 a big, deep, 00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:28.279 courageous breath 00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:29.220 and touched him. 00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:29.920 He had pity. 00:26:31.139 --> 00:26:32.359 The king had compassion 00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:33.180 and not contempt. 00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:34.440 Compassion 00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:35.639 and not contempt. 00:26:36.859 --> 00:26:37.819 Four times 00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:38.940 in this section 00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:39.779 verses 40 00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:42.460 to 45, 00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:43.980 it says, 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:46.320 it talks about cleansing. 00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:48.820 Mark wants us 00:26:48.820 --> 00:26:50.019 to make no mistake 00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:50.700 that Jesus 00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:52.220 didn't just do, 00:26:52.360 --> 00:26:52.539 again, 00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:53.420 some abracadabra. 00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:54.340 He cleansed 00:26:54.340 --> 00:26:55.340 somebody who couldn't 00:26:55.340 --> 00:26:56.019 be cleansed. 00:26:56.019 --> 00:27:00.539 this picture of uncleanliness 00:27:00.539 --> 00:27:01.440 and Jesus 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:02.599 touching it 00:27:02.599 --> 00:27:05.819 and restoring it. 00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:10.920 It is such a big picture 00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:12.099 for this poor man, 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:13.200 but it's a fantastic picture 00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:13.720 for us. 00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:16.220 I said earlier, 00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:17.500 the past is the past, 00:27:17.619 --> 00:27:18.039 but the past 00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:18.960 might not be the past 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:20.779 for some of you folks. 00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:23.119 And some of the past, 00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:24.059 I shouldn't say 00:27:24.059 --> 00:27:24.759 some of you folks 00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.879 as if it's not me too, 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:27.059 it fully is me. 00:27:27.879 --> 00:27:29.399 The past isn't just the past. 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:31.039 The past is, 00:27:31.699 --> 00:27:34.719 it's a hundred pound weighted vest 00:27:34.719 --> 00:27:35.819 that I'm trying to walk around 00:27:35.819 --> 00:27:36.739 with day after day. 00:27:38.339 --> 00:27:39.639 Maybe it's heavier for you, 00:27:39.639 --> 00:27:40.259 maybe it's lighter. 00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:42.099 You've done things 00:27:42.099 --> 00:27:45.119 that you're not 00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:46.619 too proud of. 00:27:46.699 --> 00:27:47.219 You're ashamed 00:27:47.219 --> 00:27:48.439 of certain things. 00:27:49.659 --> 00:27:50.719 You feel unclean. 00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:52.199 You do different things 00:27:52.199 --> 00:27:53.619 to make yourself feel clean 00:27:53.619 --> 00:27:54.699 and it works 00:27:54.699 --> 00:27:55.679 for maybe a bit, 00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:56.179 I don't know. 00:27:56.699 --> 00:27:57.879 I don't know what it is you do 00:27:57.879 --> 00:27:59.539 that makes you feel alright 00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:00.439 and good about yourself 00:28:00.439 --> 00:28:01.699 and I don't mean that flippantly. 00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:02.879 I genuinely mean it. 00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:04.379 But in the end, 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.439 that uncleanliness comes. 00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:08.559 Jesus touches the leper 00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:10.079 and he wants to do the same to us. 00:28:10.639 --> 00:28:11.759 To restore us. 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:14.959 The past can't be dealt with. 00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:15.919 This leper couldn't do 00:28:15.919 --> 00:28:16.759 a thing about it. 00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:19.579 Jesus again doesn't say, 00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:20.079 listen, 00:28:21.079 --> 00:28:23.359 what did you do 00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:24.219 to become a leper? 00:28:25.639 --> 00:28:25.819 Like, 00:28:26.659 --> 00:28:27.919 why would you ever 00:28:27.919 --> 00:28:29.259 hang out with other lepers 00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:30.119 or I don't know 00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:30.779 what it would be. 00:28:31.899 --> 00:28:34.199 It just says that he's moved with pity 00:28:34.199 --> 00:28:35.599 and he touches him. 00:28:35.719 --> 00:28:36.359 He restores him. 00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:37.980 The leprosy leaves him. 00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:40.859 There's great hope 00:28:40.859 --> 00:28:42.059 for the soul 00:28:42.059 --> 00:28:43.039 that feels unclean. 00:28:43.719 --> 00:28:44.519 There's great hope. 00:28:45.699 --> 00:28:46.199 And that hope 00:28:46.199 --> 00:28:47.019 isn't for tomorrow 00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:48.399 or the next day. 00:28:48.459 --> 00:28:48.959 It's for now. 00:28:50.419 --> 00:28:51.759 Jesus doesn't say 00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.240 to the leper, 00:28:52.379 --> 00:28:52.500 listen, 00:28:52.619 --> 00:28:53.439 go through the whole 00:28:53.439 --> 00:28:54.500 ritual cleansing thing. 00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:55.679 He heals him on the spot. 00:28:56.179 --> 00:28:56.679 And the man 00:28:56.679 --> 00:28:57.959 isn't partially restored. 00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:58.939 He's fully restored. 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:00.319 And for us, 00:29:00.439 --> 00:29:02.259 maybe that full restoration 00:29:02.259 --> 00:29:04.379 is a bit of a process. 00:29:04.380 --> 00:29:07.580 Because unlike leprosy 00:29:07.580 --> 00:29:09.620 that just falls off miraculously, 00:29:10.080 --> 00:29:11.660 some of the inside leprosy 00:29:11.660 --> 00:29:13.420 just takes time. 00:29:13.540 --> 00:29:13.780 Again, 00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:15.940 why in verse 14 00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:17.360 when Jesus says, 00:29:17.820 --> 00:29:19.180 he proclaims the gospel 00:29:19.180 --> 00:29:20.500 and he says to repent 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.020 and believe, 00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:22.820 it's this ongoing belief 00:29:22.820 --> 00:29:24.320 because we forget. 00:29:26.060 --> 00:29:27.580 So sometimes it is a process. 00:29:27.780 --> 00:29:28.980 Oftentimes it's a process. 00:29:29.120 --> 00:29:29.880 But we, again, 00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:30.599 can be sure 00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:32.640 that the Jesus we see here 00:29:32.640 --> 00:29:33.440 is the Jesus 00:29:33.440 --> 00:29:35.579 that we interact with now. 00:29:36.460 --> 00:29:37.380 He hasn't changed. 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:39.880 The story wraps up 00:29:39.880 --> 00:29:40.579 in verse 45 00:29:40.579 --> 00:29:41.380 and this is where 00:29:41.380 --> 00:29:42.059 I'll wrap it up. 00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:43.660 It says, 00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:47.019 but the now-cleansed leper 00:29:47.019 --> 00:29:48.299 went out 00:29:48.299 --> 00:29:49.920 and began to talk freely 00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:51.019 about his cleansing 00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:52.220 and to spread the news 00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:52.779 so that Jesus 00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:53.480 could no longer 00:29:53.480 --> 00:29:54.579 openly enter a town 00:29:54.579 --> 00:29:55.839 but was out 00:29:55.839 --> 00:29:56.940 in desolate places 00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:58.460 and people were coming to him 00:29:58.460 --> 00:30:00.019 from every quarter. 00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:02.299 So the reason why 00:30:02.299 --> 00:30:03.340 Jesus had to go out, 00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:04.680 his popularity was, 00:30:04.819 --> 00:30:05.140 it was, 00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:07.640 it was just growing 00:30:07.640 --> 00:30:09.380 and for whatever reason 00:30:09.380 --> 00:30:10.700 he had to go out 00:30:10.700 --> 00:30:11.500 and people were coming 00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.000 to see him. 00:30:13.400 --> 00:30:13.700 That's, 00:30:13.799 --> 00:30:13.980 like, 00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:14.319 that's, 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:15.519 that's the simple reading, 00:30:15.600 --> 00:30:16.240 the literal reading 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:16.860 of what's happening. 00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:17.819 But the way Mark 00:30:17.819 --> 00:30:19.700 positions that 00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:22.259 is that right on the heels 00:30:22.259 --> 00:30:24.340 of Jesus cleansing this leper, 00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:26.019 the leper goes into the town 00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:27.779 and Jesus goes outside 00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:28.319 of the town. 00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:30.019 It's as if Jesus 00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:31.240 switches places 00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:31.980 with the leper. 00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:34.200 He goes to the desolate places, 00:30:34.259 --> 00:30:35.079 he goes to the wilderness, 00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:36.900 the place where he can't 00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:37.980 engage with the community 00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:38.440 and again, 00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:39.660 Jesus does eventually 00:30:39.660 --> 00:30:40.960 go into the town 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:41.720 so I'm not trying to make 00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:43.140 a huge thing out of this 00:30:43.140 --> 00:30:44.340 but the way Mark 00:30:44.340 --> 00:30:45.140 has positioned it, 00:30:46.140 --> 00:30:47.980 he is putting breadcrumbs 00:30:47.980 --> 00:30:48.819 out for us 00:30:48.819 --> 00:30:50.319 because we're starting 00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:52.059 to see who this Messiah is. 00:30:53.120 --> 00:30:54.340 That he doesn't just 00:30:54.340 --> 00:30:55.660 work miracles, 00:30:55.660 --> 00:30:57.480 he takes on 00:30:57.480 --> 00:30:59.400 our fate 00:30:59.400 --> 00:31:00.980 and gives us 00:31:00.980 --> 00:31:01.880 his. 00:31:02.040 --> 00:31:03.580 He cleans us 00:31:03.580 --> 00:31:04.960 and he becomes 00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:05.720 unclean. 00:31:06.120 --> 00:31:07.800 He takes our sin 00:31:07.800 --> 00:31:08.640 away from us 00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:09.380 and, 00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:10.480 and so we are made 00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:10.820 righteous 00:31:10.820 --> 00:31:11.040 and, 00:31:11.120 --> 00:31:12.400 and that sin 00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:13.060 rests on him 00:31:13.060 --> 00:31:14.080 and we're starting to see, 00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:15.360 Mark is painting this picture 00:31:15.360 --> 00:31:17.019 and we're starting to see 00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:18.759 of just little bits 00:31:18.759 --> 00:31:19.840 of who this Messiah 00:31:19.840 --> 00:31:21.380 is and what he's come to do. 00:31:21.380 --> 00:31:22.500 And ultimately, 00:31:22.760 --> 00:31:23.960 we will understand 00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:25.500 who the Son of God is 00:31:25.500 --> 00:31:27.180 at the cross 00:31:27.180 --> 00:31:28.220 where Jesus dies 00:31:28.220 --> 00:31:30.120 not for his own sins 00:31:30.120 --> 00:31:31.480 but for your sin, 00:31:31.560 --> 00:31:32.260 for my sin. 00:31:33.360 --> 00:31:34.240 And we start to see 00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:35.200 this beautiful picture 00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:38.180 of who this incredible King is. 00:31:38.800 --> 00:31:39.880 Jesus has all authority 00:31:39.880 --> 00:31:41.780 and yet he is humble 00:31:41.780 --> 00:31:42.800 and lowly. 00:31:43.420 --> 00:31:44.520 He's compassionate 00:31:44.520 --> 00:31:45.880 and does not show contempt 00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:47.740 and he will cleanse you. 00:31:47.820 --> 00:31:48.360 He will. 00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.540 It's a promise, 00:31:49.600 --> 00:31:50.460 not my promise. 00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:51.039 It's his. 00:31:51.480 --> 00:31:52.340 He will cleanse you 00:31:52.340 --> 00:31:53.880 if you only cry out to him. 00:31:54.319 --> 00:31:55.620 Have mercy upon me. 00:31:55.799 --> 00:31:56.640 You can cleanse me 00:31:56.640 --> 00:31:57.200 if you will. 00:31:58.440 --> 00:31:59.400 Why don't we stand 00:31:59.400 --> 00:31:59.900 and pray, 00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:01.240 stretch out 00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:02.680 and then we'll get into 00:32:02.680 --> 00:32:03.900 a time of intercession. 00:32:09.620 --> 00:32:10.400 Lord God, 00:32:10.460 --> 00:32:11.180 we thank you 00:32:11.180 --> 00:32:13.160 that your word is rich. 00:32:14.360 --> 00:32:15.980 It is very rich 00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:17.299 and we thank you 00:32:17.299 --> 00:32:17.920 for your Son 00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:19.420 who has all authority 00:32:19.420 --> 00:32:20.920 over everything 00:32:20.920 --> 00:32:22.480 and that the battle 00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:23.420 is already won. 00:32:23.900 --> 00:32:26.220 It's evil, 00:32:26.680 --> 00:32:28.100 can't hold a candle 00:32:28.100 --> 00:32:28.680 to your Son. 00:32:30.019 --> 00:32:30.380 And yet, 00:32:30.620 --> 00:32:31.519 your Son, 00:32:31.680 --> 00:32:32.440 he doesn't flex 00:32:32.440 --> 00:32:33.160 his authority 00:32:33.160 --> 00:32:34.420 at our expense 00:32:34.420 --> 00:32:36.220 but instead 00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:37.240 he is compassionate, 00:32:37.900 --> 00:32:40.340 that he is lowly 00:32:40.340 --> 00:32:41.019 and humble 00:32:41.019 --> 00:32:42.519 and yet almighty. 00:32:43.360 --> 00:32:43.620 Lord, 00:32:43.700 --> 00:32:45.240 we ask that you would help us 00:32:45.240 --> 00:32:47.140 to not try to perfume 00:32:47.140 --> 00:32:48.180 the leprosy, 00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:48.880 so to speak, 00:32:49.640 --> 00:32:50.640 to hide the stench 00:32:50.640 --> 00:32:51.099 but instead 00:32:51.099 --> 00:32:52.759 we will go to your blessed Son 00:32:52.759 --> 00:32:54.880 and ask for his wonderful 00:32:54.880 --> 00:32:55.819 healing touch. 00:32:56.819 --> 00:32:57.039 Lord, 00:32:57.140 --> 00:32:57.640 for us, 00:32:58.539 --> 00:32:58.700 Lord, 00:32:58.759 --> 00:33:00.000 help us to grow in our faith. 00:33:00.180 --> 00:33:01.059 If anybody here, 00:33:01.160 --> 00:33:01.299 Lord, 00:33:01.420 --> 00:33:03.460 has not quite put their faith 00:33:03.460 --> 00:33:04.400 and hope and trust in you, 00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:04.640 Lord, 00:33:04.700 --> 00:33:05.559 will you please 00:33:05.559 --> 00:33:07.120 draw them to yourself 00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:08.899 and that they will simply 00:33:08.899 --> 00:33:10.459 repent and believe, 00:33:10.619 --> 00:33:11.739 throw themselves 00:33:11.739 --> 00:33:12.619 at your feet. 00:33:13.059 --> 00:33:13.959 In Jesus' name, 00:33:14.679 --> 00:33:15.000 Amen.