WEBVTT

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 Hello, my name is George Sinclair. I'm the pastor, Church of the Messiah.

00:00:06.879 --> 00:00:09.660
 And those of you who have listened to some of these other sermons,

00:00:09.859 --> 00:00:13.099
 this sounds a little bit different than what you normally would hear.

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 And so I just want to let you know that what happened is that on the 25th of August,

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 I preached a sermon on Mark chapter 2, verses 1 to 12, the story of Jesus and the paralytic.

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 And I did the sermon, it was recorded, and then something happened.

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 The person in charge of the recording by accident deleted the sermon recording and wasn't able to recover it.

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 So what I'm doing now is I'm redoing the sermon, so to speak.

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 But I'm in an empty room and I'm going to do the best I can to redo the sermon.

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 And so that's why things sound a little bit different.

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 It's going to feel a little bit different as well.

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 So let's begin with a prayer.

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 Father, I ask that you would pour the Holy Spirit upon us.

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 Father, we both need forgiveness and we need to learn how to forgive.

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 And we confess before you that we are confused about forgiveness.

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 And so we ask, Father, that you would bring the wisdom of your word, the wisdom of your son,

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 deep into our heart, that we might learn our need to be forgiven by you,

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 our need to live out of the forgiveness that comes from you,

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 and that we might learn how to forgive as he has forgiven us.

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 And this we ask in the name of Jesus, your son and our savior.

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 Amen.

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 Okay.

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 One of the things that you hear all the time in the world,

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 not only in the world, I heard it in the coffee shop just the other day.

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 You hear it in Christian circles as well,

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 is that people have to learn how to forgive themselves.

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 So it's one of those things that if they say it in a movie,

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 people just say it as if it's great wisdom,

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 that you have to learn how to forgive yourself.

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 Now, there's a bit of a problem with this.

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 Let's just think about this for a second.

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 A few years ago, a fellow who has since moved out of the city,

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 there's a couple of years ago, a fellow did me great harm.

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 He wronged me.

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 He betrayed my trust more than once, and I only discovered it later.

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 He affected my reputation.

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 He did something that ended up meaning that I had to spend a fair bit of money

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 and a lot of stress to try to deal with it.

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 It caused me leadership problems in my church.

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 He wronged me, and he did it intentionally,

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 and he did it for his own advantage.

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 And it wasn't right.

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 And, you know, it's funny.

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 In preparing this sermon, I was thinking about it,

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 and I realized I think I've more or less forgiven him,

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 but I don't think I've forgiven him all the way,

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 and I have to go back to praying into the situation to learn how to forgive him.

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 But here's the point.

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 He never has apologized.

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 He's never owned up to anything he's done.

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 He brazened his way through everything that happened

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 and has never acknowledged anything as having been done wrong.

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 But let's say all of a sudden, because I know people who know him,

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 I know people who are friends of his,

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 have all of a sudden,

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 I discovered that he's really starting to feel bad about this,

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 what he did to me.

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 And he's brought it to God and confessed it to God,

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 and now he's working on forgiving himself.

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 Now, just pause here for a second.

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 This is like, you go, what do you mean?

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 Like, I go, whoa, what do you mean he's working on forgiving himself?

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 Like, why is he working on forgiving himself

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 when he's never actually said sorry to me?

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 Like, shouldn't he actually try to apologize to me

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 before he tries to forgive himself?

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 Like, what does that even mean that he's working on?

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 Like, in fact, it would actually make me think less of him,

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 that he's trying to forgive himself

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 without actually trying to make amendment of a life

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 or apologize or anything like that.

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 You see the problem?

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 And that's separate from another issue,

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 which is an issue altogether

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 with the whole issue of forgiveness,

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 is that for many of us,

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 it's almost as if we have to choose to be,

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 do something which is just

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 trust and get justice or forgive,

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 and that you have to choose one or the other.

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 Because some of you might say,

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 George, I don't even understand

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 why you're trying to work on forgiving yourself.

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 Like, why are you even doing that?

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 Like, what you should have,

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 I mean, not forgiving yourself, sorry, I misspoke.

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 George, I don't understand

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 why you're even praying to forgive the guy.

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 Like, George, you shouldn't have done that.

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 What you should have done

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 is you should have gone after the guy.

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 You should have made sure everybody knew.

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 You should have embarrassed him.

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 Like, you should have gone after justice

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 rather than learning how to try to forgive him.

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 Well, in the midst of these types

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 of very, very current issues,

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 there's a story in Mark's gospel about Jesus,

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 which is very, very helpful for us to understand

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 and try to think these things all through.

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 So if you're turning your Bibles

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 to Mark chapter two, verses one to 12,

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 Mark chapter two, verse one,

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 and as you turn to that,

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 it's the story which is famous amongst Christians

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 is the healing of the paralytic.

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 And it must be considered a very important story

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 because there's three, four eyewitness biographies of Jesus.

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 And out of the four ancient biographies of Jesus,

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 three of the ancient biographies tell this story.

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 And so it must be a really important story

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 if it got told in three of the eyewitness biographies.

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 And that's what Mark is in both,

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 we know that Mark was both an eyewitness

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 and an earwitness himself to many things in Jesus's life.

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 He was also a close companion

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 of many of the people who were eye and ear witnesses

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 of the things that went on in the story of Jesus.

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 And he wrote when the eyewitnesses,

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 many, many, many eyewitnesses were still alive.

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 And in fact, actually, scholars have often believed

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 that he did a little tiny interesting thing

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 of putting himself in the story very briefly.

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 If any of you have watched any of the Marvel movies,

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 you'll know, I mean, now Stan Lee just died recently,

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 but you'll know that if you watch those movies,

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 they always had some tiny instant,

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 just a few seconds maybe,

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 where Stan Lee, the creator of,

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 the guy who was behind Marvel Comics,

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 where he gets into the story.

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 You see him in some ways as a bus collector

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 or as a restaurant patron or something like that.

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 And there's a, people believe that Mark

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 inserted himself in the story as well.

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 Towards the very end of Mark's gospel,

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 his ancient biography,

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 there's a scene where Jesus has been captured

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 in the garden.

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 And this is the capturing in the garden of Gethsemane

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 and Jesus is going to die the next day,

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 but he's captured by soldiers and guards.

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 And the disciples flee.

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 And there's a young man who'd been following along,

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 watching everything.

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 And the soldiers go to grab him.

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 And the man is so afraid that he actually,

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 they grab his robe,

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 but he runs and the clothes rip.

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 And he runs away naked,

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 leaving his clothes behind.

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 And many scholars believe that that was Mark

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 having a Stan Lee moment.

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 But the main thing to understand here is this,

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 that what Mark is claiming to do in this book

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 is he's trying, he's claiming to tell you

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 a true story about Jesus and a real miracle.

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 That's what he's claiming in the eyewitness biography.

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 So here's how it goes.

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 Mark chapter two, verse one,

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 and it goes like this.

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 When he, that's Jesus,

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 returned to Capernaum after some days,

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 it was reported that he was at home.

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 And many were gathered together

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 so that there was no more room,

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 not even at the door.

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 And Jesus was preaching the word to them.

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 Now, just pause here for a second.

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 Most of us are familiar with the idea

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 that Jesus is from Nazareth.

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 And he was born in Bethlehem,

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 but he grew up in Nazareth.

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 And now Jesus is in his public ministry.

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 And he's basically the center of his ministry now

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 is a place called Capernaum.

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 And it's 32 kilometers northeast of Nazareth.

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 And it's on the shore of the Sea of Galilee,

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 which is a very large inland lake.

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 That's his home now, Capernaum.

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 You know, all the populations in the ancient world

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 at that time were fairly small,

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 but it was a sizable enough village.

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 And it was a pretty important place of commerce

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 for the region.

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 And that's now the center of where Jesus is.

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 That's when he's not out somewhere else.

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 He goes home.

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 He's in Capernaum.

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 So what happens here?

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 Verse three.

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 Remember, he's preaching the word to them.

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 And the room's completely and utterly packed

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 inside and outside.

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 They're all hanging around the doors and the windows

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 trying to hear him.

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 Verse three.

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 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic

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 carried by four men.

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 And when they could not get near Jesus

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 because of the crowd,

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 they removed the roof above Jesus.

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 And when they had made an opening,

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 they let down the bed

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 on which the paralytic lay.

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 Now, just pause here for a second.

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 This is sort of an odd story

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 if you're hearing it for the first time.

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 And, you know,

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 this wouldn't work very well

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 in our houses today here in Ottawa.

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 I don't know where you are

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 when you're listening to this,

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 but in Ottawa,

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 this wouldn't work very well.

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 You'd need chainsaws.

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 And if you took a chainsaw to a roof

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 and went through the different layers

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 to make a huge hole,

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 it would cause a huge problem.

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 It cost tens of thousands of dollars to fix.

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 And it wasn't that this was a,

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 I mean, it was a bit of a bother back then,

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 but where they lived,

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 it's a very dry area.

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 The roofs would have been flat.

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 It's fairly dry.

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 Roofs were flat, flat.

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 There would have been beams.

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 And the beams would have been covered

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 with thatch and then some mud.

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 And there would have been some,

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 an area of plank or something up there

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 because people use the roof in a sense

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 also as a living place,

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 sort of like a very, very large balcony.

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 And so there might've been another type

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 of a shady thing up there.

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 So most of the houses back then

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 would have had stairs around the outside

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 to make it easy for people

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 to go up and to be on the roof.

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 And they'd have to walk carefully on the beams

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 and go to the area where you could sit.

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 So it still would have been a lot of bother,

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 the thatch, the mud,

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 and you can just imagine the dust.

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 And you can just imagine,

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 this isn't like a holy, quiet moment of awe.

00:10:32.780 --> 00:10:35.200
 The homeowner is probably yelling

00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:36.460
 at these four guys.

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 There's probably lots of cursing.

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 And it's not a place of holy, quiet

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 as these guys wreck a big hole in the roof.

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 They've obviously come prepared with ropes

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 and they drop the guy down

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 right in front of Jesus.

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 People move out of the way,

00:10:51.560 --> 00:10:52.660
 banging into each other,

00:10:53.140 --> 00:10:53.780
 out of the way,

00:10:53.779 --> 00:10:56.679
 and they drop this guy right at Jesus's feet.

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 So how does Jesus react?

00:10:58.579 --> 00:11:01.559
 Well, let's look in verse five.

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 Here's how Jesus reacts.

00:11:03.980 --> 00:11:05.600
 And when Jesus saw their faith,

00:11:06.179 --> 00:11:07.299
 he said to the paralytic,

00:11:07.860 --> 00:11:10.000
 son, your sins are forgiven.

00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:13.319
 Now, just pause.

00:11:13.839 --> 00:11:15.860
 In the original language here, by the way,

00:11:16.059 --> 00:11:18.699
 it's a verbal tense called the divine passive.

00:11:19.299 --> 00:11:21.740
 So it's very obvious in the original language

00:11:21.740 --> 00:11:23.679
 that Jesus is saying two things.

00:11:23.779 --> 00:11:25.419
 He's saying that God has forgiven

00:11:25.419 --> 00:11:28.439
 all of this person's sins or wrongdoing.

00:11:29.240 --> 00:11:30.419
 And that, in a sense,

00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:33.039
 Jesus has also forgiven this person.

00:11:33.199 --> 00:11:34.019
 Jesus is God.

00:11:34.079 --> 00:11:35.639
 It's a very, very clear claim

00:11:35.639 --> 00:11:36.799
 that Jesus is God.

00:11:37.299 --> 00:11:39.139
 And that Jesus, as God,

00:11:39.199 --> 00:11:40.439
 has forgiven this man

00:11:40.439 --> 00:11:42.399
 of all of the sins,

00:11:42.579 --> 00:11:44.159
 all of the wrongdoing he's ever done,

00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:45.679
 all of the things he should have done

00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:46.339
 but didn't do.

00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:48.079
 You know, they're called like sins of omission.

00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:49.800
 You know, you know you should pay the money,

00:11:50.060 --> 00:11:51.120
 somebody their money back

00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:52.240
 because you have the money in the pocket

00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:54.120
 and they ask for it and you don't give them.

00:11:54.180 --> 00:11:55.060
 That's wrong, right?

00:11:55.100 --> 00:11:56.200
 That's a sin of omission.

00:11:56.420 --> 00:11:58.660
 Or you take money out of their pocket.

00:11:59.280 --> 00:11:59.940
 That's stealing.

00:12:00.060 --> 00:12:00.560
 That's wrong.

00:12:00.700 --> 00:12:01.759
 So one's a sin of omission.

00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:02.720
 One's a sin of commission.

00:12:03.300 --> 00:12:04.840
 And Jesus is saying,

00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:06.900
 all of your sins are forgiven.

00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:09.379
 Now, this is weird, right?

00:12:10.259 --> 00:12:11.820
 This is a very, very weird thing.

00:12:11.919 --> 00:12:13.439
 I mean, he didn't come there

00:12:13.439 --> 00:12:15.120
 to have his sins forgiven.

00:12:15.299 --> 00:12:17.759
 He's not asking to have his sins forgiven.

00:12:18.580 --> 00:12:20.259
 He came there to get healed

00:12:20.259 --> 00:12:21.139
 because he'd heard

00:12:21.139 --> 00:12:23.360
 that Jesus was able to heal people.

00:12:23.439 --> 00:12:24.100
 And he came there,

00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:26.059
 him and his friends came there

00:12:26.059 --> 00:12:28.320
 and said to be healed,

00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:29.220
 not to be forgiven.

00:12:29.639 --> 00:12:30.860
 And you can well imagine,

00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:31.539
 you know,

00:12:31.820 --> 00:12:33.480
 you can well imagine

00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:35.440
 that the guy and his friends

00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:36.559
 think, well, that's very nice

00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:37.460
 and very pious.

00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:39.120
 But at the end of the day,

00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:40.600
 they probably are crushed.

00:12:40.700 --> 00:12:41.940
 They're very, very disappointed.

00:12:42.200 --> 00:12:43.139
 They didn't want to have

00:12:43.139 --> 00:12:45.120
 some statement about their sins

00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:46.659
 dealt with.

00:12:46.740 --> 00:12:49.100
 They wanted healing for their friend.

00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:50.340
 The guy wanted healing.

00:12:50.620 --> 00:12:52.379
 And there'd probably be disappointment.

00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:55.299
 Now, that's what's probably

00:12:55.299 --> 00:12:56.460
 going on within them.

00:12:57.500 --> 00:12:59.899
 But there's a group of other people there

00:12:59.899 --> 00:13:01.399
 who are looking at it

00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:03.899
 in a very, very, very, very different way.

00:13:05.060 --> 00:13:06.639
 And let's see what happens

00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:07.680
 because it's not that

00:13:07.680 --> 00:13:08.379
 they're just thinking

00:13:08.379 --> 00:13:09.220
 this is sort of odd.

00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:10.080
 He came for healing

00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:11.820
 and the guy's forgiving his sins

00:13:11.820 --> 00:13:12.879
 and their sense of disappointment.

00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:13.879
 No, these other people,

00:13:14.019 --> 00:13:15.860
 they heard what Jesus said

00:13:15.860 --> 00:13:17.659
 and it sort of shocked them.

00:13:17.700 --> 00:13:18.460
 And they have a very,

00:13:18.580 --> 00:13:19.379
 very different take

00:13:19.379 --> 00:13:20.080
 on what happens.

00:13:20.220 --> 00:13:20.919
 Listen to what happens.

00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:21.679
 It's verse six.

00:13:22.340 --> 00:13:23.879
 Now, some of the scribes

00:13:23.879 --> 00:13:24.759
 were sitting there

00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:26.299
 questioning in their hearts.

00:13:26.820 --> 00:13:28.700
 Why does this man speak like that?

00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:30.200
 He is blaspheming.

00:13:30.200 --> 00:13:32.159
 Who can forgive sins

00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:33.379
 but God alone?

00:13:34.299 --> 00:13:35.559
 Now, just sort of pause there

00:13:35.559 --> 00:13:36.299
 for a second.

00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:37.859
 Now, the first thing

00:13:37.859 --> 00:13:38.799
 you have to understand here

00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:39.819
 is what's a scribe?

00:13:39.939 --> 00:13:40.099
 Okay.

00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:43.500
 So, there's no real equivalent

00:13:43.500 --> 00:13:44.799
 to what a scribe is.

00:13:44.939 --> 00:13:45.919
 The version of the Bible

00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:46.679
 that I've just read

00:13:46.679 --> 00:13:48.059
 gives you a good literal

00:13:48.059 --> 00:13:50.879
 translation.

00:13:51.739 --> 00:13:52.579
 But what you need to do

00:13:52.579 --> 00:13:53.439
 is you need to think about

00:13:53.439 --> 00:13:55.619
 somebody who's both a lawyer

00:13:55.619 --> 00:13:57.759
 and not only a lawyer

00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:59.719
 but also a professor of law.

00:13:59.720 --> 00:14:01.639
 And you need to know somebody

00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:03.360
 who is an intellectual.

00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:06.399
 And you need to have somebody

00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:06.779
 who's,

00:14:07.580 --> 00:14:10.879
 who maybe is an expert

00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:12.240
 in cultural studies.

00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:14.000
 And then you also have to have

00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:15.379
 somebody who's like a YouTuber

00:14:15.379 --> 00:14:17.720
 commenting on the culture

00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:19.779
 that lots and lots of people go to

00:14:19.779 --> 00:14:22.600
 because they see this YouTuber

00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:24.639
 as being very authoritative

00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:25.820
 about what's going on

00:14:25.820 --> 00:14:26.399
 in the culture.

00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:27.620
 And they want to hear

00:14:27.620 --> 00:14:29.740
 his or her cultural commentary.

00:14:30.199 --> 00:14:31.319
 And if you could think of somebody

00:14:31.319 --> 00:14:32.259
 who's both a lawyer

00:14:32.259 --> 00:14:34.539
 and a law professor

00:14:34.539 --> 00:14:35.759
 and an intellectual

00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:38.740
 and a cultural studies professor

00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:39.899
 and a YouTuber

00:14:39.899 --> 00:14:41.220
 all rolled up in one,

00:14:41.379 --> 00:14:42.299
 you have a scribe.

00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:43.620
 Okay?

00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:44.899
 That's what they are.

00:14:44.899 --> 00:14:48.220
 They're these multifaceted experts

00:14:48.220 --> 00:14:49.919
 in how the culture works,

00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:51.220
 how thinking works,

00:14:51.860 --> 00:14:53.299
 what means what.

00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:54.720
 And they're there.

00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:56.240
 And what they pick up

00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:58.340
 is not,

00:14:58.720 --> 00:14:59.860
 wow, this is weird.

00:15:00.680 --> 00:15:02.019
 This must be really disappointing

00:15:02.019 --> 00:15:02.759
 to this guy

00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:03.720
 to have this, you know,

00:15:03.800 --> 00:15:05.019
 silly statement about sins

00:15:05.019 --> 00:15:05.639
 being forgiven

00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:06.500
 when he wants to be healed.

00:15:06.820 --> 00:15:07.779
 They don't think that at all.

00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:09.200
 They pick up instantly

00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:10.779
 that Jesus has made a claim

00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:11.500
 to be God.

00:15:12.440 --> 00:15:13.899
 That's what they pick up on.

00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:15.920
 And, and for us,

00:15:16.060 --> 00:15:17.320
 we would take up

00:15:17.320 --> 00:15:18.259
 the idea of

00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:19.460
 somebody wanting to be God

00:15:19.460 --> 00:15:21.019
 and thinking that's cuckoo land.

00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:24.159
 And some of you listening to this

00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:25.299
 come to Church of the Messiah.

00:15:25.539 --> 00:15:26.679
 Some of you listening to this

00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:28.179
 have visited Church of the Messiah.

00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:29.480
 Some of you listening to this

00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:30.720
 have never been to Church of the Messiah.

00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:32.639
 We're, we're in urban Ottawa.

00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:34.199
 There's lots of crazy people

00:15:34.199 --> 00:15:35.960
 walking around the streets.

00:15:36.840 --> 00:15:37.939
 I mean, not lots,

00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:38.480
 but they're, you know,

00:15:38.539 --> 00:15:40.019
 you don't have to go very far

00:15:40.019 --> 00:15:40.819
 or wait very long

00:15:40.819 --> 00:15:41.919
 before you'll meet somebody

00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:42.659
 who's obviously,

00:15:42.939 --> 00:15:44.100
 you know, mentally ill

00:15:44.100 --> 00:15:45.759
 and who might think they're God

00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:46.819
 or do other types of

00:15:46.819 --> 00:15:47.960
 things like that.

00:15:48.039 --> 00:15:49.559
 But they don't think like that.

00:15:49.559 --> 00:15:50.759
 They think this guy,

00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:52.259
 here's a dude

00:15:52.259 --> 00:15:53.479
 just standing there,

00:15:53.539 --> 00:15:54.699
 obviously a human being.

00:15:54.979 --> 00:15:55.759
 And what he's doing

00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:57.059
 is he's claiming to be God.

00:15:57.159 --> 00:15:58.119
 And from their context,

00:15:58.219 --> 00:15:59.059
 it's blasphemy

00:15:59.059 --> 00:16:00.699
 to, to try to think

00:16:00.699 --> 00:16:01.519
 that there can be anybody

00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:03.319
 other than only God is God.

00:16:03.319 --> 00:16:04.479
 And how can you be God?

00:16:04.539 --> 00:16:05.699
 You can't make that claim.

00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:07.239
 It's, it's just wrong.

00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:09.759
 So what does Jesus do

00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:10.819
 about all of this?

00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:11.719
 Now, here's one of the things

00:16:11.719 --> 00:16:12.839
 which is so interesting

00:16:12.839 --> 00:16:13.519
 about Jesus.

00:16:13.939 --> 00:16:15.639
 And you see it all the way through

00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:16.979
 the, the, the,

00:16:16.979 --> 00:16:18.879
 the biographies of, of him

00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:21.179
 is Jesus walks towards the problem,

00:16:21.299 --> 00:16:22.080
 not away from it.

00:16:22.139 --> 00:16:23.879
 He walks right towards the problem

00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:24.580
 to deal with it.

00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:26.799
 Look at, look what happens next

00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:28.419
 in verses eight through 11.

00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:30.960
 And immediately, right?

00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:31.559
 Immediately,

00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:34.559
 Jesus perceiving in his spirit

00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:36.439
 that they, that's the scribes,

00:16:36.899 --> 00:16:38.500
 thus questioned within themselves,

00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:39.419
 said to them,

00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:42.460
 why do you question these things

00:16:42.460 --> 00:16:43.340
 in your hearts?

00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:45.320
 Which is easier to say

00:16:45.320 --> 00:16:46.179
 to the paralytic?

00:16:46.179 --> 00:16:47.759
 Paralytic, your sons are forgiven?

00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:49.799
 Or to say, rise,

00:16:50.079 --> 00:16:51.500
 take up your bed and walk?

00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:54.359
 But that you may know

00:16:54.359 --> 00:16:55.459
 that the son of man

00:16:55.459 --> 00:16:56.979
 has authority on earth

00:16:56.979 --> 00:16:58.199
 to forgive sins.

00:16:58.939 --> 00:17:00.599
 He then turns to the paralytic.

00:17:01.979 --> 00:17:04.139
 I say to you, rise,

00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:06.359
 pick up your bed and go home.

00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:07.559
 I'm going to just read that

00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:08.460
 verse 10 and 11.

00:17:09.460 --> 00:17:10.559
 I'm going to read that

00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:11.720
 verse nine through 11 again.

00:17:11.819 --> 00:17:12.879
 Which is easier to say

00:17:12.879 --> 00:17:13.559
 to the paralytic,

00:17:13.559 --> 00:17:14.579
 your sons are forgiven?

00:17:14.779 --> 00:17:15.679
 Or to say, rise,

00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:17.720
 take up your bed and walk?

00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:18.980
 But that you may know

00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:19.819
 that the son of man

00:17:19.819 --> 00:17:21.779
 has authority on earth.

00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:22.559
 That is not only

00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:23.720
 that he has the power,

00:17:23.879 --> 00:17:24.659
 the scribes say

00:17:24.659 --> 00:17:25.419
 he has the ability

00:17:25.419 --> 00:17:26.500
 to make that type of thing.

00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:28.599
 He says that I have the ability,

00:17:29.099 --> 00:17:30.519
 an authoritative ability.

00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:34.619
 And just so that you can know

00:17:34.619 --> 00:17:36.980
 that I have this authoritative ability

00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:38.240
 on earth to forgive sins,

00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:40.099
 he then says to the paralytic,

00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:41.200
 I say to you, rise,

00:17:41.339 --> 00:17:43.079
 pick up your bed and go home.

00:17:43.559 --> 00:17:44.960
 Now let's just pause here

00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:45.599
 for a little bit

00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:46.480
 and just think about

00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:49.859
 what's just taken place

00:17:49.859 --> 00:17:50.980
 in Jesus' response.

00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:51.779
 So the first thing

00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:53.019
 you have to understand here

00:17:53.019 --> 00:17:56.379
 is that Jesus is not saying

00:17:56.379 --> 00:17:57.720
 that the man's sin

00:17:57.720 --> 00:17:59.919
 caused the sickness.

00:18:00.399 --> 00:18:01.980
 He's not saying

00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:03.859
 that you need to forgive

00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:05.740
 to be able to be healed.

00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:06.720
 He's not saying

00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:07.859
 that you need to be forgiven

00:18:07.859 --> 00:18:09.379
 to be healed.

00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:10.500
 He's not saying anything

00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:11.319
 like that at all.

00:18:11.379 --> 00:18:12.099
 He's not encouraging

00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:12.859
 the man to forgive

00:18:12.859 --> 00:18:13.959
 and because he's forgiving,

00:18:14.159 --> 00:18:15.399
 he's now able

00:18:15.399 --> 00:18:16.819
 to psychologically forgive.

00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:18.299
 It somehow frees him up

00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:20.199
 from some psychosomatic problem

00:18:20.199 --> 00:18:21.500
 and he's now able to walk.

00:18:21.919 --> 00:18:23.159
 None of that's going on.

00:18:23.219 --> 00:18:23.839
 He's not saying

00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:24.959
 sin caused the sickness

00:18:24.959 --> 00:18:26.259
 or you need to forgive

00:18:26.259 --> 00:18:27.019
 to be healed

00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:29.059
 or anything like that.

00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:30.399
 What he's doing here,

00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:31.500
 and I think this is

00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:32.219
 one of the reasons

00:18:32.219 --> 00:18:34.439
 why this story

00:18:34.439 --> 00:18:37.339
 is in three of the biographies,

00:18:38.159 --> 00:18:39.299
 is that Jesus

00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:41.039
 throws down the gauntlet.

00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:42.680
 He throws down the gauntlet.

00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:45.279
 Throwing down the gauntlet

00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:46.500
 is like a bit of a challenge,

00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:46.899
 right?

00:18:47.399 --> 00:18:48.339
 It's an expression

00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:49.539
 about making a challenge.

00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:50.799
 He's throwing down the gauntlet.

00:18:50.940 --> 00:18:51.539
 He's challenging

00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:52.639
 every religion,

00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:53.759
 every spirituality,

00:18:54.259 --> 00:18:55.420
 every philosophy

00:18:55.420 --> 00:18:58.859
 to put up or shut up,

00:18:58.859 --> 00:19:00.279
 so to speak.

00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:02.559
 You know,

00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:04.879
 what he's saying is,

00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:05.779
 I'm going to give you

00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:06.559
 some evidence

00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:09.039
 that what I'm saying

00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:10.000
 is justified.

00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:11.059
 I'm going to give you

00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:12.419
 some way to vindicate

00:19:12.419 --> 00:19:15.519
 and justify my claims

00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:16.539
 because, you know,

00:19:16.619 --> 00:19:17.460
 talk is cheap.

00:19:17.859 --> 00:19:18.220
 You know,

00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:21.079
 Muhammad can say

00:19:21.079 --> 00:19:22.480
 that he is the prophet of Allah.

00:19:22.599 --> 00:19:23.740
 Well, but what's the proof?

00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:24.779
 Like, what's the proof?

00:19:24.899 --> 00:19:25.079
 You know,

00:19:25.159 --> 00:19:26.619
 in Hinduism,

00:19:26.679 --> 00:19:27.159
 you can say,

00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:27.339
 well,

00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:28.899
 that there's the reincarnation

00:19:28.899 --> 00:19:29.859
 and there's karma

00:19:29.859 --> 00:19:30.899
 and there's yoga

00:19:30.899 --> 00:19:32.159
 and there's all these practices,

00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:32.960
 but, yeah,

00:19:33.040 --> 00:19:33.940
 like, talk is cheap.

00:19:34.060 --> 00:19:35.360
 Like, how are you going

00:19:35.360 --> 00:19:36.500
 to prove that, right?

00:19:36.580 --> 00:19:37.279
 And you can have

00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:38.240
 your native spirituality

00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:39.019
 and you believe this

00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:39.720
 and believe that

00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:40.200
 and in a sense,

00:19:40.300 --> 00:19:41.240
 Jesus is saying to them,

00:19:41.620 --> 00:19:43.240
 yeah, but how do you prove that?

00:19:43.320 --> 00:19:43.880
 Like, why,

00:19:44.360 --> 00:19:45.460
 what evidence is there

00:19:45.460 --> 00:19:47.019
 that I should actually believe

00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:48.519
 that this is something true?

00:19:49.040 --> 00:19:50.519
 And it would be the same as well.

00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:52.120
 It would be the same for Marxism.

00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:52.680
 It would be the same

00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:53.759
 for different philosophies

00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:54.480
 and theologies

00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:56.680
 and personal spiritualities

00:19:56.680 --> 00:19:57.800
 that people around us

00:19:57.800 --> 00:19:58.980
 and maybe some of you

00:19:58.980 --> 00:19:59.440
 who are listening

00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:00.140
 have developed

00:20:00.140 --> 00:20:00.900
 bits and pieces

00:20:00.900 --> 00:20:01.640
 of this and that

00:20:01.640 --> 00:20:02.100
 as you're trying

00:20:02.100 --> 00:20:03.259
 to make your way

00:20:03.259 --> 00:20:04.100
 forward spiritually

00:20:04.100 --> 00:20:05.240
 and Jesus is saying

00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:06.800
 that I'm not just talking

00:20:06.800 --> 00:20:07.500
 about spirituality

00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:08.240
 or religion

00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:09.340
 as if it's untrue.

00:20:09.480 --> 00:20:10.180
 It's just something like,

00:20:10.280 --> 00:20:11.780
 it's like a personal thing

00:20:11.780 --> 00:20:12.640
 that you happen to like

00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:13.100
 that gives you

00:20:13.100 --> 00:20:13.820
 a moment of peace.

00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:14.380
 I'm making,

00:20:14.540 --> 00:20:16.100
 I'm making claims

00:20:16.100 --> 00:20:17.280
 about the very nature

00:20:17.280 --> 00:20:17.980
 of the world,

00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:19.280
 the nature of reality

00:20:19.280 --> 00:20:20.320
 and I am willing

00:20:20.320 --> 00:20:21.340
 to do something

00:20:21.340 --> 00:20:23.000
 that vindicates,

00:20:23.120 --> 00:20:24.060
 that justifies

00:20:24.060 --> 00:20:25.960
 these remarkable claims

00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:27.040
 that I make

00:20:27.040 --> 00:20:29.640
 and I would say

00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:30.900
 that only Christianity

00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:32.240
 out of all the religions

00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:33.300
 and spiritualities

00:20:33.300 --> 00:20:33.740
 of the world

00:20:33.740 --> 00:20:34.600
 is falsifiable.

00:20:35.580 --> 00:20:36.480
 Jesus lays down

00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:37.580
 this challenge

00:20:37.580 --> 00:20:39.100
 and it's only

00:20:39.100 --> 00:20:40.440
 the Christian faith

00:20:40.440 --> 00:20:42.440
 that lays down

00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:43.160
 such a challenge

00:20:43.160 --> 00:20:44.480
 and is able to meet it

00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:45.860
 if you look at the evidence.

00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:49.019
 And the claim is

00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:49.840
 that Jesus

00:20:49.840 --> 00:20:53.100
 by his mere

00:20:53.100 --> 00:20:55.860
 act of will alone

00:20:55.859 --> 00:20:58.639
 is going to be able

00:20:58.639 --> 00:21:01.219
 to heal this man.

00:21:01.719 --> 00:21:02.339
 Now some of you

00:21:02.339 --> 00:21:02.859
 might say,

00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:03.259
 okay,

00:21:03.339 --> 00:21:04.419
 one moment George

00:21:04.419 --> 00:21:04.939
 here,

00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:05.859
 I don't understand

00:21:05.859 --> 00:21:06.819
 how these types

00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:07.359
 of authorities

00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:07.959
 are connected

00:21:07.959 --> 00:21:08.559
 and here's how

00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:09.099
 they're connected.

00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.319
 See the fact of the matter

00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:10.599
 is,

00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:12.079
 is that both are impossible

00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:12.899
 so to speak,

00:21:12.939 --> 00:21:13.119
 right?

00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:14.399
 On one hand,

00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:15.519
 I can't say to you,

00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:16.059
 a listener,

00:21:16.299 --> 00:21:17.419
 all your sins are forgiven.

00:21:17.659 --> 00:21:18.399
 I forgive

00:21:18.399 --> 00:21:19.719
 all of your sins.

00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:20.119
 You say,

00:21:20.619 --> 00:21:21.000
 George,

00:21:21.099 --> 00:21:21.740
 like you don't even know

00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:22.419
 the things I've done.

00:21:22.459 --> 00:21:23.179
 You don't even know me.

00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:24.039
 I'm just listening to you

00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:25.039
 on your podcast.

00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:27.500
 You know,

00:21:27.580 --> 00:21:28.200
 you don't know me.

00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:28.900
 How can you,

00:21:29.140 --> 00:21:29.920
 like who do you think

00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:30.740
 you are that you can think

00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:31.720
 that every single wrong

00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:32.400
 thing I've ever done

00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:33.220
 and every wrong thing

00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:34.140
 I ever will do

00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:35.200
 that somehow another

00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:35.860
 George,

00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:36.360
 you forget,

00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:37.160
 like that doesn't

00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:37.860
 make any sense,

00:21:37.900 --> 00:21:38.100
 right?

00:21:38.380 --> 00:21:39.720
 So that's impossible

00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:40.600
 but the healing's

00:21:40.600 --> 00:21:42.039
 impossible as well.

00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:43.500
 So here's the thing,

00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:45.720
 what Jesus is saying

00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:47.299
 and this fits in

00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:48.019
 with the whole

00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:48.560
 understand,

00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:49.580
 the Christian understanding

00:21:49.580 --> 00:21:50.120
 of the world

00:21:50.120 --> 00:21:52.080
 and how the world

00:21:52.080 --> 00:21:52.660
 has developed

00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:53.620
 and came to be

00:21:53.620 --> 00:21:55.200
 and Jesus is saying

00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:57.300
 that if in fact

00:21:57.300 --> 00:21:58.560
 there is a God

00:21:58.560 --> 00:21:59.920
 who's created all things

00:21:59.920 --> 00:22:01.660
 and sustains all things,

00:22:02.320 --> 00:22:03.920
 if in fact

00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:04.759
 there is a God

00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.640
 who does exist,

00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:07.360
 who has created all things

00:22:07.360 --> 00:22:08.940
 and sustains all things,

00:22:09.040 --> 00:22:10.040
 then if that is the case,

00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:11.720
 every act of wrongdoing

00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:13.060
 is somehow

00:22:13.060 --> 00:22:14.840
 an act against him

00:22:14.840 --> 00:22:16.940
 as well as the creation

00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:18.560
 or the created being

00:22:18.560 --> 00:22:20.200
 or the person

00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:21.500
 that you've wronged.

00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:23.140
 and so only God

00:22:23.140 --> 00:22:23.880
 is implicated

00:22:23.880 --> 00:22:24.880
 in all wrongdoing

00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:25.920
 and therefore

00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:26.819
 you need God

00:22:26.819 --> 00:22:27.759
 and only he

00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:29.440
 can do something

00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:30.180
 that might involve

00:22:30.180 --> 00:22:30.740
 your forgiveness

00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:31.819
 for every single thing

00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:32.519
 that you've ever done

00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:33.220
 because he's the only

00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:34.220
 constant in your life.

00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:35.039
 Your mom might not

00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:35.660
 be the constant,

00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:36.220
 your dad,

00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:36.579
 your brother,

00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:37.039
 your sister,

00:22:37.140 --> 00:22:37.519
 your friend.

00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:39.500
 Only God is constant

00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:40.200
 if in fact

00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:40.799
 there is a God

00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:41.559
 that does exist

00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:42.099
 who's created

00:22:42.099 --> 00:22:43.099
 and sustained

00:22:43.099 --> 00:22:44.200
 all things

00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:45.500
 and the same God

00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:45.960
 who's created

00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:46.619
 and sustained

00:22:46.619 --> 00:22:47.359
 all things

00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:48.359
 is the only one

00:22:48.359 --> 00:22:49.319
 who could perform

00:22:49.319 --> 00:22:50.759
 by, in a sense,

00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:51.919
 a mere act of will

00:22:51.919 --> 00:22:53.459
 such remarkable healing.

00:22:53.619 --> 00:22:54.000
 So you see,

00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:54.739
 what he's saying

00:22:54.739 --> 00:22:55.919
 is that the two things

00:22:55.919 --> 00:22:56.559
 are connected

00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:58.239
 to point to the same God

00:22:58.239 --> 00:23:00.419
 that you and I

00:23:00.419 --> 00:23:01.199
 don't know

00:23:01.199 --> 00:23:02.019
 whether or not

00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:03.000
 your sins are forgiven

00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:04.000
 because that's invisible

00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:04.839
 and you can make

00:23:04.839 --> 00:23:05.819
 some type of claim.

00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:07.459
 Religions and spiritualities

00:23:07.459 --> 00:23:08.599
 are making all sorts of claim.

00:23:08.719 --> 00:23:08.799
 You know,

00:23:08.859 --> 00:23:11.119
 you chant this mantra

00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:13.039
 and it will help you

00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:14.619
 in your whole cycle

00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:15.859
 of birth and rebirth.

00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:17.299
 You, you know,

00:23:17.339 --> 00:23:18.519
 you say these prayers

00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:20.119
 and it makes you draw

00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:21.099
 close to the God

00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:21.799
 or to the goddess

00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:22.239
 or whatever

00:23:22.239 --> 00:23:23.279
 and people can say

00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:23.939
 all those things

00:23:23.939 --> 00:23:24.659
 but there's no way

00:23:24.659 --> 00:23:25.139
 of knowing

00:23:25.139 --> 00:23:25.839
 whether those things

00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:26.939
 are actually true or not.

00:23:27.339 --> 00:23:28.859
 But what Jesus is saying here

00:23:28.859 --> 00:23:31.459
 is that if there is a God

00:23:31.459 --> 00:23:32.679
 that does exist like that

00:23:32.679 --> 00:23:34.399
 and I am able to do something

00:23:34.399 --> 00:23:36.000
 that only God can do,

00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:38.199
 that shows that

00:23:38.199 --> 00:23:39.079
 as something

00:23:39.079 --> 00:23:40.139
 that only God can do

00:23:40.140 --> 00:23:41.220
 that these other things

00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:42.340
 that only God can do,

00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:42.940
 it makes sense

00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:44.000
 that I can do them as well.

00:23:44.080 --> 00:23:44.820
 That's how the argument

00:23:44.820 --> 00:23:45.380
 is working.

00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:47.860
 And by the way,

00:23:48.100 --> 00:23:49.460
 when I was talking about this

00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:50.820
 to a guy in a coffee shop

00:23:50.820 --> 00:23:51.740
 just very recently

00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:52.820
 and he was asking me about it,

00:23:52.840 --> 00:23:53.020
 he said,

00:23:53.060 --> 00:23:54.180
 well, what's the historical evidence

00:23:54.180 --> 00:23:54.880
 for this happening?

00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:55.720
 You see,

00:23:55.820 --> 00:23:56.200
 this is the,

00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:57.920
 there is no particular

00:23:57.920 --> 00:23:58.920
 historical evidence

00:23:58.920 --> 00:24:00.860
 for this particular miracle today

00:24:00.860 --> 00:24:01.680
 although there would have been

00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:02.300
 in John's,

00:24:02.420 --> 00:24:03.240
 in Mark's time

00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:04.420
 because in Mark's time

00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:05.140
 because it was written

00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:06.300
 while there were eyewitnesses

00:24:06.300 --> 00:24:06.860
 who were alive,

00:24:07.540 --> 00:24:08.600
 that would have meant

00:24:08.600 --> 00:24:09.420
 that somebody

00:24:09.420 --> 00:24:11.039
 who hears about this story,

00:24:11.400 --> 00:24:12.900
 some pagan who hears

00:24:12.900 --> 00:24:13.640
 about this story

00:24:13.640 --> 00:24:14.420
 in the Decapolis,

00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:15.539
 he can just get in a boat

00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:17.000
 and go across the Decapolis

00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:18.000
 and he can go to Capernaum

00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:18.740
 and ask around

00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:19.620
 as to whether this story

00:24:19.620 --> 00:24:20.180
 had ever happened,

00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:21.500
 see if he can meet

00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:22.259
 the four guys,

00:24:22.380 --> 00:24:23.060
 the four dudes

00:24:23.060 --> 00:24:24.580
 and the paralytic.

00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:25.019
 I mean,

00:24:25.360 --> 00:24:25.620
 you know,

00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:27.340
 when it was published,

00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:29.000
 the people who,

00:24:29.560 --> 00:24:30.860
 over what I read,

00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:31.860
 Mark's story,

00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:33.600
 his biography of Jesus

00:24:33.600 --> 00:24:34.400
 would have included

00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:36.340
 people who liked Jesus

00:24:36.339 --> 00:24:37.819
 and those who didn't like Jesus

00:24:37.819 --> 00:24:38.699
 and all of them

00:24:38.699 --> 00:24:39.679
 could have commented on it

00:24:39.679 --> 00:24:40.199
 but you see,

00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:42.019
 the big thing is for us

00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:43.119
 is that it's helping

00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:43.980
 to set the stage

00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:45.699
 for the great thing

00:24:45.699 --> 00:24:46.879
 which culminates

00:24:46.879 --> 00:24:48.799
 each of the four biographies

00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:50.740
 and Mark's biography included

00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:52.159
 and that is

00:24:52.159 --> 00:24:53.099
 the death of Jesus

00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:53.959
 upon the cross.

00:24:54.159 --> 00:24:55.119
 Everything in the story,

00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:56.099
 just read the story

00:24:56.099 --> 00:24:56.599
 of Mark

00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:57.199
 or Matthew

00:24:57.199 --> 00:24:57.679
 or Luke

00:24:57.679 --> 00:24:58.199
 or John

00:24:58.199 --> 00:24:58.819
 as a story

00:24:58.819 --> 00:24:59.199
 and you'll see

00:24:59.199 --> 00:25:00.119
 they all culminate

00:25:00.119 --> 00:25:00.959
 with Jesus dying

00:25:00.959 --> 00:25:01.740
 upon the cross

00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:05.039
 and him being truly buried

00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:07.079
 and on the third day

00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:09.099
 the grave being empty

00:25:09.099 --> 00:25:11.200
 and the resurrected Jesus

00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:12.400
 or the message

00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:14.099
 that Jesus is resurrected

00:25:14.099 --> 00:25:15.539
 ringing out.

00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:16.900
 The tomb is empty.

00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:18.200
 The grave clothes

00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:20.579
 are positioned

00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:21.440
 in such a way

00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:22.839
 that only something

00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:23.579
 like a resurrection

00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:24.319
 of the body

00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:25.000
 could explain

00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:25.620
 what happened

00:25:25.620 --> 00:25:27.000
 and people can hear

00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:28.920
 that is something

00:25:28.920 --> 00:25:30.339
 if you've never looked into it

00:25:30.339 --> 00:25:33.500
 there's good historical reasons

00:25:33.500 --> 00:25:34.399
 to believe

00:25:34.399 --> 00:25:37.480
 that Jesus really did die.

00:25:37.639 --> 00:25:37.779
 In fact,

00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:39.079
 everybody understands

00:25:39.079 --> 00:25:39.459
 that he was,

00:25:39.699 --> 00:25:40.919
 very few people now

00:25:40.919 --> 00:25:41.279
 would doubt

00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:42.179
 that Jesus lived.

00:25:42.879 --> 00:25:44.240
 Lots of historical evidence

00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:44.720
 he lived.

00:25:45.199 --> 00:25:45.720
 Everybody knows

00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:46.439
 he had to die

00:25:46.439 --> 00:25:48.019
 and there's lots

00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:48.859
 of historical evidence,

00:25:48.959 --> 00:25:49.859
 good historical evidence

00:25:49.859 --> 00:25:50.519
 that points

00:25:50.519 --> 00:25:51.819
 to the best solution

00:25:51.819 --> 00:25:52.519
 to the evidence

00:25:52.519 --> 00:25:53.799
 being that Jesus

00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:54.720
 rose from the dead.

00:25:55.099 --> 00:25:56.000
 The gauntlet

00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:57.339
 of all the,

00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:57.879
 the importance

00:25:57.879 --> 00:25:58.939
 of all the miracles

00:25:58.939 --> 00:25:59.899
 is made clear

00:25:59.900 --> 00:26:01.000
 in this story.

00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:04.380
 And so,

00:26:04.600 --> 00:26:05.740
 Jesus is claiming

00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:07.120
 not that he's going

00:26:07.120 --> 00:26:07.860
 to do surgery,

00:26:08.060 --> 00:26:08.720
 not that he's going

00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:09.840
 to pray to a God

00:26:09.840 --> 00:26:11.160
 or God to do this,

00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:12.640
 but that he himself

00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:14.280
 by the mere exercise

00:26:14.280 --> 00:26:15.240
 of his will

00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:16.320
 will heal this man.

00:26:16.900 --> 00:26:18.019
 So what happens?

00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:18.460
 Well,

00:26:18.580 --> 00:26:19.580
 that's how the story ends.

00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:20.560
 Look at verse 12.

00:26:21.800 --> 00:26:23.060
 In verse 12,

00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:24.960
 and he rose immediately,

00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:26.700
 that's the paralytic man,

00:26:26.780 --> 00:26:27.780
 he rose immediately

00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:29.759
 and picked up his bed

00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:31.000
 and went out

00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:31.899
 before them all

00:26:31.899 --> 00:26:32.920
 so that they were

00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:33.460
 all amazed

00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:34.500
 and glorified God

00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:34.980
 saying,

00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:37.680
 we never saw

00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:39.639
 anything like this.

00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:40.619
 So,

00:26:41.139 --> 00:26:42.079
 some of you might say,

00:26:42.119 --> 00:26:42.359
 oh yeah,

00:26:42.420 --> 00:26:42.539
 yeah,

00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:43.339
 they didn't know science.

00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:43.819
 Listen,

00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:45.819
 science only

00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:46.920
 creates the wow.

00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:48.079
 Just because

00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:48.700
 they didn't know

00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:50.259
 a whole pile of science

00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:50.740
 doesn't mean

00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:51.200
 that they didn't know

00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:51.779
 what he was talking about.

00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:52.660
 The fact of the matter is

00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:53.359
 they would have known

00:26:53.359 --> 00:26:54.899
 far more about this

00:26:54.899 --> 00:26:55.539
 than we did

00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:55.940
 because,

00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:56.159
 you know,

00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:57.539
 there was a very physical,

00:26:57.799 --> 00:26:57.960
 you know,

00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:58.899
 people lived in tiny,

00:26:59.019 --> 00:26:59.619
 tiny places

00:26:59.619 --> 00:27:01.879
 and they didn't hire out help.

00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:03.139
 They did the help themselves.

00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:04.799
 They got their hands dirty,

00:27:04.940 --> 00:27:05.500
 so to speak,

00:27:05.559 --> 00:27:07.000
 with each other's sicknesses

00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:07.519
 and issues

00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:08.980
 and if this man

00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:10.000
 had been paralyzed

00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:10.579
 for a while,

00:27:10.659 --> 00:27:11.460
 they would have seen

00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:12.159
 how skinny

00:27:12.159 --> 00:27:13.680
 his little stick legs were.

00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.399
 They would have seen

00:27:14.399 --> 00:27:15.799
 the atrophy of the muscle

00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:18.359
 and what happens

00:27:18.359 --> 00:27:19.220
 in this miracle

00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:20.200
 is that

00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:21.980
 it's not as if

00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:24.180
 Jesus says this thing

00:27:24.180 --> 00:27:25.180
 and then they all look

00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:26.120
 and whoa,

00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:26.940
 all of a sudden

00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:27.900
 he's able to twitch

00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:28.960
 his toe a little bit.

00:27:29.080 --> 00:27:30.080
 There must be some healing

00:27:30.080 --> 00:27:30.620
 or whoa,

00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:31.080
 look at this,

00:27:31.140 --> 00:27:32.120
 we can stick a stone

00:27:32.120 --> 00:27:32.840
 on his toe

00:27:32.840 --> 00:27:34.019
 and there's a bit

00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:34.640
 of a reflex

00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:35.580
 and for us,

00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:36.320
 it's okay,

00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:36.640
 you know,

00:27:36.660 --> 00:27:37.380
 if that happens,

00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:37.700
 okay,

00:27:37.740 --> 00:27:38.259
 it's good news,

00:27:38.320 --> 00:27:38.960
 you're not paralyzed.

00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:40.660
 There's still some feeling there,

00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:41.740
 there's still some movement

00:27:41.740 --> 00:27:42.759
 and it isn't that

00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:43.700
 Jesus just did this

00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:44.920
 but if you can just think

00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:45.779
 about the fact that,

00:27:46.080 --> 00:27:46.460
 you know,

00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:47.720
 the man's muscles

00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:48.620
 had atrophied

00:27:48.620 --> 00:27:49.799
 and whatever it is,

00:27:49.880 --> 00:27:51.039
 by the mere will

00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:52.100
 of Jesus alone,

00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:52.920
 new muscle

00:27:52.920 --> 00:27:54.019
 is there in the legs

00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:56.139
 new nerves

00:27:56.139 --> 00:27:56.839
 are there.

00:27:57.379 --> 00:27:58.180
 The problems

00:27:58.180 --> 00:27:58.799
 that were there

00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.759
 maybe that were causing

00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:00.359
 blockages

00:28:00.359 --> 00:28:01.680
 by an act of his will,

00:28:02.119 --> 00:28:03.220
 they are removed,

00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:04.700
 the new connections

00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:05.539
 of the nerves

00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:06.319
 and the new muscle

00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:07.200
 that needs to be there,

00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:08.420
 the new muscle memory

00:28:08.420 --> 00:28:09.480
 that needs to be there,

00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.819
 it's all created

00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:11.920
 by Jesus.

00:28:12.139 --> 00:28:13.200
 We now look at that,

00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:13.619
 it would have been

00:28:13.619 --> 00:28:14.500
 a huge wow to them

00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:15.139
 because they would have,

00:28:15.460 --> 00:28:17.059
 the guys who carried him

00:28:17.059 --> 00:28:18.200
 and probably helped his friend,

00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:18.839
 they would have seen

00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:19.859
 his little stick legs

00:28:19.859 --> 00:28:20.700
 and then later on

00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:21.000
 they'd say,

00:28:21.079 --> 00:28:23.240
 lift up your rope,

00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:23.579
 look at that,

00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:25.180
 you have muscles again,

00:28:25.299 --> 00:28:25.640
 dude.

00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:28.019
 Like you have flesh again,

00:28:28.140 --> 00:28:28.460
 dude.

00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:29.539
 Like that's what

00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:30.299
 they would have said.

00:28:31.299 --> 00:28:32.339
 And you don't have to have

00:28:32.339 --> 00:28:33.319
 a science degree

00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:34.660
 to understand the miracle,

00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:36.359
 science just increases

00:28:36.359 --> 00:28:36.920
 the wow.

00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:41.820
 and the implication

00:28:41.820 --> 00:28:42.420
 of the story

00:28:42.420 --> 00:28:42.900
 is that

00:28:42.900 --> 00:28:45.060
 if he could do this,

00:28:45.620 --> 00:28:46.100
 then it makes

00:28:46.100 --> 00:28:47.140
 complete and utter sense

00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:47.900
 that he has

00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:48.560
 the authority

00:28:48.560 --> 00:28:49.519
 to forgive sins.

00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:51.440
 So let's unpack this

00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:52.300
 a little bit more

00:28:52.300 --> 00:28:54.180
 as we try to bring this

00:28:54.180 --> 00:28:55.180
 up to an end.

00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:56.100
 Here's the first thing.

00:28:56.920 --> 00:28:57.720
 God himself

00:28:57.720 --> 00:28:58.400
 has invaded,

00:28:58.779 --> 00:28:59.320
 you see,

00:28:59.380 --> 00:29:00.320
 these are the wonderful thing

00:29:00.320 --> 00:29:01.160
 about the stories

00:29:01.160 --> 00:29:01.980
 of the gospel

00:29:01.980 --> 00:29:03.200
 is that it's helping you

00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:04.080
 to understand

00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:05.919
 by a story,

00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:07.279
 to enter imaginatively

00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:07.899
 and emotionally

00:29:07.899 --> 00:29:08.799
 into the story

00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:10.059
 and it's teaching you

00:29:10.059 --> 00:29:10.799
 at the same time

00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:11.579
 at a story level

00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:12.559
 profound,

00:29:13.179 --> 00:29:14.419
 conceptual truths.

00:29:14.919 --> 00:29:15.759
 God himself

00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:16.819
 has invaded

00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:18.259
 his fallen creation

00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:19.259
 to begin to put

00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:19.980
 things right

00:29:19.980 --> 00:29:21.319
 by offering full

00:29:21.319 --> 00:29:22.559
 and undeserved

00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:23.240
 forgiveness

00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:25.000
 to his sinning

00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:26.279
 image bearers.

00:29:26.359 --> 00:29:27.019
 I'll say that again.

00:29:27.139 --> 00:29:27.919
 God himself

00:29:27.919 --> 00:29:28.879
 has invaded.

00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:30.920
 Only God

00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:31.240
 could do

00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:31.660
 what Jesus

00:29:31.660 --> 00:29:32.320
 just did.

00:29:33.280 --> 00:29:33.760
 And Jesus

00:29:33.760 --> 00:29:34.600
 just did it.

00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:36.220
 So God himself

00:29:36.220 --> 00:29:37.240
 has invaded

00:29:37.240 --> 00:29:38.800
 his fallen creation

00:29:38.800 --> 00:29:40.000
 to begin

00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:40.860
 to put things

00:29:40.860 --> 00:29:41.260
 right

00:29:41.260 --> 00:29:42.520
 by offering

00:29:42.520 --> 00:29:43.140
 full

00:29:43.140 --> 00:29:44.900
 and undeserved

00:29:44.900 --> 00:29:45.680
 forgiveness

00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:47.420
 to his sinning

00:29:47.420 --> 00:29:48.880
 image bearers.

00:29:49.160 --> 00:29:50.280
 That's human beings.

00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:51.680
 So some of you

00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:51.840
 say,

00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:52.220
 whoa,

00:29:52.340 --> 00:29:52.840
 George,

00:29:53.120 --> 00:29:53.320
 whoa,

00:29:53.380 --> 00:29:53.520
 whoa,

00:29:53.520 --> 00:29:53.720
 whoa,

00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:54.020
 whoa,

00:29:54.020 --> 00:29:54.240
 whoa,

00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:54.420
 whoa,

00:29:54.420 --> 00:29:54.640
 whoa.

00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:56.080
 Undeserved?

00:29:57.020 --> 00:29:58.140
 Still sinning?

00:29:59.360 --> 00:29:59.540
 Like,

00:30:00.300 --> 00:30:00.540
 okay,

00:30:00.780 --> 00:30:00.980
 that,

00:30:01.280 --> 00:30:01.780
 George,

00:30:01.880 --> 00:30:02.840
 there's just a problem

00:30:02.840 --> 00:30:03.700
 here with this.

00:30:03.820 --> 00:30:03.980
 Like,

00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:05.980
 undeserved forgiveness

00:30:05.980 --> 00:30:07.720
 and still sinning?

00:30:09.340 --> 00:30:09.740
 See,

00:30:09.940 --> 00:30:10.860
 here's the,

00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:12.340
 here's the issue

00:30:12.340 --> 00:30:13.080
 for us.

00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:13.700
 It really,

00:30:13.820 --> 00:30:14.600
 that's why I worded

00:30:14.600 --> 00:30:15.160
 it the way it did.

00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:15.800
 Remember I said

00:30:15.800 --> 00:30:16.520
 at the very beginning,

00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:17.740
 you probably don't,

00:30:17.800 --> 00:30:18.160
 but if you,

00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:18.820
 you might remember

00:30:18.820 --> 00:30:19.180
 at the beginning

00:30:19.180 --> 00:30:19.540
 I said,

00:30:20.060 --> 00:30:20.260
 you know,

00:30:20.260 --> 00:30:20.840
 for a lot of us

00:30:20.840 --> 00:30:21.420
 in our culture,

00:30:21.600 --> 00:30:22.600
 it's as if you have

00:30:22.600 --> 00:30:23.500
 to choose between

00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:24.760
 forgiveness or justice.

00:30:25.100 --> 00:30:25.940
 When you face

00:30:25.940 --> 00:30:26.680
 a situation

00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:28.660
 and something's wrong

00:30:28.660 --> 00:30:29.880
 you've been wronged

00:30:29.880 --> 00:30:30.860
 in some type of way

00:30:30.860 --> 00:30:31.600
 and it's as if

00:30:31.600 --> 00:30:32.759
 all of the different people

00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:33.800
 are going to counsel you.

00:30:33.940 --> 00:30:35.060
 They're either going to tell you,

00:30:35.140 --> 00:30:35.200
 well,

00:30:35.220 --> 00:30:35.480
 listen,

00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:36.900
 forget about justice

00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:37.700
 and forgive.

00:30:38.320 --> 00:30:39.200
 And others say,

00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:40.160
 forget about forgiving,

00:30:40.540 --> 00:30:41.360
 get justice.

00:30:42.100 --> 00:30:42.320
 And,

00:30:42.340 --> 00:30:42.640
 and,

00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:43.560
 and,

00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:44.960
 and that's the thing.

00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:45.180
 You see,

00:30:45.220 --> 00:30:45.779
 on one hand,

00:30:45.840 --> 00:30:46.140
 we think,

00:30:46.200 --> 00:30:46.300
 well,

00:30:46.320 --> 00:30:47.120
 justice is a really,

00:30:47.180 --> 00:30:47.340
 really,

00:30:47.340 --> 00:30:48.420
 really good thing.

00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:51.060
 But sometimes,

00:30:51.160 --> 00:30:51.279
 you know,

00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:51.840
 you're not going to get

00:30:51.840 --> 00:30:52.960
 the justice you want

00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:53.860
 and so you've got to learn

00:30:53.860 --> 00:30:54.580
 how to forgive

00:30:54.580 --> 00:30:56.160
 because it makes you feel better.

00:30:56.160 --> 00:30:56.320
 Or,

00:30:56.320 --> 00:30:57.259
 or others will go

00:30:57.259 --> 00:30:58.259
 from the perspective of

00:30:58.259 --> 00:30:59.540
 it's very obvious

00:30:59.540 --> 00:31:00.500
 that often people

00:31:00.500 --> 00:31:01.400
 are able to forgive,

00:31:01.580 --> 00:31:03.080
 truly forgive another person.

00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:03.800
 There seems to be

00:31:03.800 --> 00:31:04.680
 a type of peace

00:31:04.680 --> 00:31:06.500
 and wholeness about them,

00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:08.380
 togetherness about them,

00:31:08.380 --> 00:31:10.340
 which we all desire to have.

00:31:10.519 --> 00:31:10.640
 And,

00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.779
 and so you,

00:31:11.900 --> 00:31:13.460
 you need to pursue forgiveness.

00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:14.040
 But if you,

00:31:14.040 --> 00:31:14.700
 if you do that,

00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:15.460
 you sort of have to give

00:31:15.460 --> 00:31:16.480
 justice a pass.

00:31:16.880 --> 00:31:17.320
 Right?

00:31:17.319 --> 00:31:17.980
 And that's why

00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:19.119
 a lot of advice

00:31:19.119 --> 00:31:21.259
 about forgiveness

00:31:21.259 --> 00:31:22.700
 is either about

00:31:22.700 --> 00:31:23.819
 learning how to forget

00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:24.859
 what went wrong

00:31:24.859 --> 00:31:26.599
 or giving the wrongdoer

00:31:26.599 --> 00:31:27.460
 a pass,

00:31:27.700 --> 00:31:28.079
 you know?

00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:29.679
 And so this,

00:31:29.919 --> 00:31:30.639
 what I've just said

00:31:30.639 --> 00:31:31.059
 is like,

00:31:31.559 --> 00:31:31.879
 you know,

00:31:31.919 --> 00:31:32.099
 the,

00:31:32.099 --> 00:31:33.619
 the person's still doing bad

00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:33.819
 and,

00:31:33.819 --> 00:31:34.659
 and undeserved

00:31:34.659 --> 00:31:35.559
 and a lot of times

00:31:35.559 --> 00:31:36.139
 what we think of

00:31:36.139 --> 00:31:37.480
 as trying to forgive somebody

00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:38.919
 is just actually making excuses

00:31:38.919 --> 00:31:39.480
 for them

00:31:39.480 --> 00:31:40.919
 or believing their excuses.

00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:42.019
 But,

00:31:42.379 --> 00:31:43.399
 but,

00:31:43.659 --> 00:31:46.480
 this is what's so amazing.

00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:47.620
 And only the Bible,

00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:50.160
 only the gospel grounds

00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:53.279
 our belief that forgiveness

00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:54.079
 is important

00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:55.460
 and justice is important

00:31:55.460 --> 00:31:57.240
 and only the Bible grounds

00:31:57.240 --> 00:31:58.599
 and helps us to understand

00:31:58.599 --> 00:31:59.980
 both forgiveness and justice

00:31:59.980 --> 00:32:00.740
 in such a way

00:32:00.740 --> 00:32:02.059
 that neither is violated

00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:03.019
 and both are fulfilled.

00:32:03.319 --> 00:32:04.660
 Only the Bible does this.

00:32:05.360 --> 00:32:07.720
 And that's what's being pointed to here

00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:08.539
 in this story

00:32:08.539 --> 00:32:09.640
 and is unfolded

00:32:09.640 --> 00:32:10.880
 in the entire gospel.

00:32:11.819 --> 00:32:11.839
 And,

00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:12.299
 and,

00:32:12.339 --> 00:32:12.579
 and,

00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:13.160
 and you see,

00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:13.500
 here's,

00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:14.960
 here's what you have to understand.

00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:15.799
 You,

00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:15.839
 you,

00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:16.759
 my second point,

00:32:16.819 --> 00:32:18.159
 you only forgive the person

00:32:18.159 --> 00:32:20.000
 whose wrongdoing is inexcusable.

00:32:20.639 --> 00:32:22.619
 This is what all forgiveness really is.

00:32:22.680 --> 00:32:24.240
 You only forgive the person

00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:26.559
 whose wrongdoing is inexcusable.

00:32:30.159 --> 00:32:30.639
 There's,

00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:31.500
 you know,

00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:32.500
 the fact of the matter is,

00:32:32.539 --> 00:32:34.079
 is if they have a good excuse,

00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:35.279
 then,

00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:37.279
 you don't really forgive them

00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:39.039
 because they didn't do anything wrong.

00:32:39.159 --> 00:32:39.359
 You know,

00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:39.599
 if,

00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:40.019
 if you,

00:32:40.200 --> 00:32:40.659
 if you,

00:32:40.779 --> 00:32:41.099
 if,

00:32:41.099 --> 00:32:41.539
 if a,

00:32:41.539 --> 00:32:43.519
 if an old lady,

00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:44.839
 if I,

00:32:44.839 --> 00:32:46.019
 I pushed an old lady

00:32:46.019 --> 00:32:46.459
 really,

00:32:46.559 --> 00:32:47.619
 really hard on the road

00:32:47.619 --> 00:32:48.719
 and,

00:32:48.819 --> 00:32:50.679
 or tackled her or something,

00:32:50.819 --> 00:32:52.259
 jumped on her and tackled her,

00:32:52.659 --> 00:32:53.119
 she'd,

00:32:53.159 --> 00:32:53.879
 might say,

00:32:53.919 --> 00:32:54.819
 she's going to have to figure out

00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:55.539
 how to forgive me.

00:32:55.539 --> 00:32:55.859
 But if,

00:32:55.859 --> 00:32:58.299
 if she finds out that I did that

00:32:58.299 --> 00:33:00.619
 to mean that she didn't get hit by a car,

00:33:01.399 --> 00:33:02.399
 all of a sudden,

00:33:02.399 --> 00:33:04.659
 she wouldn't be trying to come up with

00:33:04.659 --> 00:33:06.000
 giving me an excuse.

00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:07.180
 She'd be thanking me,

00:33:07.180 --> 00:33:07.420
 right?

00:33:07.840 --> 00:33:08.779
 So that's,

00:33:08.860 --> 00:33:10.680
 it's always what's left over

00:33:10.680 --> 00:33:12.120
 when all the excuses,

00:33:12.440 --> 00:33:12.940
 the real,

00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:14.800
 not excuses that are bad excuses,

00:33:14.800 --> 00:33:16.240
 just like it's a pile of,

00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:16.500
 you know,

00:33:16.640 --> 00:33:17.940
 hooey that we try to get around

00:33:17.940 --> 00:33:19.519
 taking responsibility for actions,

00:33:19.580 --> 00:33:20.480
 but when there's real

00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:22.680
 extenuating circumstances

00:33:22.680 --> 00:33:23.640
 that make you understand

00:33:23.640 --> 00:33:25.180
 the situation completely different,

00:33:25.779 --> 00:33:26.980
 that's not forgiveness.

00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:29.440
 It's always about something

00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:31.100
 that was wrong.

00:33:32.200 --> 00:33:32.500
 And,

00:33:32.580 --> 00:33:32.920
 you know,

00:33:33.060 --> 00:33:33.860
 for Christians,

00:33:33.980 --> 00:33:35.240
 since God knows everything,

00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:37.620
 he already knows

00:33:37.620 --> 00:33:39.339
 the extenuating circumstances.

00:33:39.620 --> 00:33:41.420
 He already knows what they are.

00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:42.259
 He knows them better

00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:43.380
 than you know them.

00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:44.980
 So it's not a matter of God

00:33:44.980 --> 00:33:45.640
 having to know that.

00:33:45.940 --> 00:33:47.620
 Forgiveness is always dealing with

00:33:47.620 --> 00:33:49.359
 that which is left over,

00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:50.859
 which is just wrong

00:33:50.859 --> 00:33:52.299
 and has to be dealt with.

00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:53.720
 But,

00:33:54.079 --> 00:33:55.559
 then we don't really know

00:33:55.559 --> 00:33:57.019
 what to do about that

00:33:57.019 --> 00:33:58.480
 because it seems as if,

00:33:58.539 --> 00:33:58.640
 well,

00:33:58.759 --> 00:33:58.960
 you'd,

00:33:59.180 --> 00:33:59.940
 I don't know,

00:34:00.059 --> 00:34:00.220
 like,

00:34:00.539 --> 00:34:00.779
 George,

00:34:01.120 --> 00:34:02.140
 here's the next point.

00:34:02.240 --> 00:34:03.200
 If justice is,

00:34:03.359 --> 00:34:04.700
 here's what the Bible would teach.

00:34:05.240 --> 00:34:07.000
 If justice is compromised,

00:34:07.460 --> 00:34:08.639
 it is not forgiveness.

00:34:09.559 --> 00:34:10.519
 True forgiveness

00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:11.920
 is a mercy

00:34:11.920 --> 00:34:13.739
 that upholds justice.

00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:14.920
 This is really important.

00:34:15.019 --> 00:34:16.159
 This is what the Bible teaches.

00:34:16.300 --> 00:34:18.039
 This is what the gospel grounds

00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:19.280
 and helps us to understand.

00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:21.880
 If justice is compromised,

00:34:22.360 --> 00:34:23.579
 it is not forgiveness.

00:34:24.199 --> 00:34:25.159
 True forgiveness

00:34:25.159 --> 00:34:26.659
 is a mercy

00:34:26.659 --> 00:34:29.679
 that upholds justice.

00:34:29.679 --> 00:34:31.059
 You see,

00:34:31.739 --> 00:34:33.779
 that's what the Bible reveals

00:34:33.779 --> 00:34:35.079
 about the God

00:34:35.079 --> 00:34:36.319
 revealed in the Bible.

00:34:36.839 --> 00:34:38.239
 Many of you have heard me say,

00:34:38.500 --> 00:34:40.159
 I don't believe in the God

00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:41.440
 that Canadians believe in.

00:34:41.699 --> 00:34:42.519
 I don't.

00:34:43.399 --> 00:34:44.619
 If I,

00:34:44.899 --> 00:34:46.219
 if the only God that existed

00:34:46.219 --> 00:34:47.339
 was the God,

00:34:47.460 --> 00:34:48.440
 if the only God

00:34:48.440 --> 00:34:49.480
 that you could believe in

00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:49.980
 was the God

00:34:49.980 --> 00:34:51.079
 that Canadians believed in,

00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:51.980
 I would be an atheist.

00:34:52.460 --> 00:34:52.719
 Okay?

00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:53.779
 If the only God

00:34:53.779 --> 00:34:54.159
 that you,

00:34:54.819 --> 00:34:56.639
 that anybody had ever heard of

00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:57.199
 was the God

00:34:57.199 --> 00:34:58.739
 that most Canadians believe in,

00:34:58.779 --> 00:34:59.579
 then I wouldn't believe

00:34:59.579 --> 00:35:00.159
 in that God.

00:35:00.219 --> 00:35:00.939
 I would be an atheist.

00:35:01.679 --> 00:35:02.679
 I would think that God

00:35:02.679 --> 00:35:04.639
 is bad in all sorts of ways.

00:35:04.759 --> 00:35:06.159
 I believe in the God

00:35:06.159 --> 00:35:07.259
 revealed by Jesus

00:35:07.259 --> 00:35:08.139
 and the God revealed

00:35:08.139 --> 00:35:08.699
 in the Bible.

00:35:08.839 --> 00:35:10.099
 And in the Bible,

00:35:10.239 --> 00:35:11.259
 the God who is revealed

00:35:11.259 --> 00:35:11.879
 is a God

00:35:11.879 --> 00:35:13.039
 who is always just

00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:14.259
 and always merciful.

00:35:14.779 --> 00:35:16.619
 And he's 100% just

00:35:16.619 --> 00:35:17.899
 and 100% merciful.

00:35:18.039 --> 00:35:19.079
 And he's never merciful

00:35:19.079 --> 00:35:20.119
 at the expense

00:35:20.119 --> 00:35:20.859
 of his justice

00:35:20.859 --> 00:35:21.839
 and he's never just

00:35:21.839 --> 00:35:23.059
 at the expense of mercy.

00:35:23.719 --> 00:35:25.039
 And what Christians believe

00:35:25.039 --> 00:35:26.099
 about the cross

00:35:26.099 --> 00:35:27.319
 is that in the cross,

00:35:27.440 --> 00:35:29.319
 when Jesus dies in my stead,

00:35:29.460 --> 00:35:30.579
 when Jesus,

00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:31.279
 in a sense,

00:35:31.380 --> 00:35:32.940
 sees my great need

00:35:32.940 --> 00:35:34.480
 that I have done wrong

00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:36.460
 and there's something

00:35:36.460 --> 00:35:37.619
 that needs to be done

00:35:37.619 --> 00:35:39.159
 about that

00:35:39.159 --> 00:35:41.059
 and that because

00:35:41.059 --> 00:35:43.299
 of the accumulated wrongdoing

00:35:43.299 --> 00:35:44.719
 and failure to do right

00:35:44.719 --> 00:35:46.460
 that has happened in my life,

00:35:46.539 --> 00:35:47.960
 that if I was to really,

00:35:48.079 --> 00:35:48.339
 in a sense,

00:35:48.400 --> 00:35:49.619
 be judged for that,

00:35:49.619 --> 00:35:51.199
 it would unmake me.

00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:52.679
 And so Jesus,

00:35:52.839 --> 00:35:53.719
 out of love for me,

00:35:53.839 --> 00:35:54.739
 comes and stands,

00:35:54.920 --> 00:35:55.839
 takes my place,

00:35:56.319 --> 00:35:57.980
 takes the punishment

00:35:57.980 --> 00:35:59.179
 in my stead.

00:36:00.159 --> 00:36:03.139
 And in that particular act then,

00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:06.259
 justice is still given.

00:36:06.380 --> 00:36:08.059
 It isn't as if God just says to me,

00:36:08.119 --> 00:36:08.819
 ah, George, you know what?

00:36:08.839 --> 00:36:09.579
 I like your smile.

00:36:09.679 --> 00:36:10.500
 I like your style.

00:36:10.619 --> 00:36:12.420
 I like your jokes.

00:36:12.940 --> 00:36:14.639
 And so I'm going to give you a pass.

00:36:14.920 --> 00:36:15.460
 And you know,

00:36:15.500 --> 00:36:16.380
 all those people

00:36:16.380 --> 00:36:18.440
 who you wronged,

00:36:18.440 --> 00:36:19.380
 who want justice,

00:36:19.380 --> 00:36:20.500
 well, it sucks to be them.

00:36:20.880 --> 00:36:22.440
 No, that's not what happens.

00:36:23.140 --> 00:36:24.180
 What the Bible teaches

00:36:24.180 --> 00:36:26.360
 is that the full justice of God

00:36:26.360 --> 00:36:27.079
 is on display

00:36:27.079 --> 00:36:28.599
 when Jesus dies upon the cross

00:36:28.599 --> 00:36:30.420
 and the full mercy of God

00:36:30.420 --> 00:36:31.860
 and the forgiveness of God

00:36:31.860 --> 00:36:32.920
 is available,

00:36:33.599 --> 00:36:34.640
 is on display

00:36:34.640 --> 00:36:36.160
 as Jesus dies on the cross.

00:36:36.260 --> 00:36:38.059
 That's why the glory of God

00:36:38.059 --> 00:36:39.640
 is revealed in the cross.

00:36:39.760 --> 00:36:41.420
 That's why God is revealed

00:36:41.420 --> 00:36:43.280
 most perfectly and fully

00:36:43.280 --> 00:36:45.900
 with Jesus dying upon the cross.

00:36:45.900 --> 00:36:46.960
 And then you say,

00:36:47.059 --> 00:36:48.300
 well, how is this possible?

00:36:48.519 --> 00:36:49.539
 How is this possible?

00:36:49.920 --> 00:36:50.760
 Well, here's another thing

00:36:50.760 --> 00:36:51.619
 you have to understand

00:36:51.619 --> 00:36:52.820
 to help you understand the cross.

00:36:52.940 --> 00:36:54.579
 You cannot forgive a person.

00:36:55.519 --> 00:36:56.300
 Remember I said earlier,

00:36:56.460 --> 00:36:57.480
 if justice is compromised,

00:36:57.660 --> 00:36:58.480
 it is not forgiveness.

00:36:58.680 --> 00:36:59.900
 True forgiveness is a mercy

00:36:59.900 --> 00:37:00.860
 that upholds justice.

00:37:01.180 --> 00:37:01.720
 Here's the thing.

00:37:02.079 --> 00:37:03.780
 You cannot forgive a person

00:37:03.780 --> 00:37:04.559
 without pain,

00:37:04.940 --> 00:37:05.420
 in quotes,

00:37:05.700 --> 00:37:06.860
 the satisfaction

00:37:06.860 --> 00:37:08.460
 justice requires.

00:37:08.460 --> 00:37:10.599
 You cannot forgive a person

00:37:10.599 --> 00:37:11.320
 without pain,

00:37:11.720 --> 00:37:12.780
 the satisfaction

00:37:12.780 --> 00:37:14.320
 justice requires.

00:37:14.980 --> 00:37:15.960
 I'll give you an illustration

00:37:15.960 --> 00:37:16.639
 about this.

00:37:17.039 --> 00:37:18.139
 So let's say I have a friend

00:37:18.139 --> 00:37:20.039
 who is moving

00:37:20.039 --> 00:37:22.179
 to another country overseas.

00:37:22.440 --> 00:37:24.599
 He can't bring his SUV with him.

00:37:25.079 --> 00:37:28.960
 And so I have a conversation with him

00:37:28.960 --> 00:37:30.440
 and we decide that I'm going to buy

00:37:30.440 --> 00:37:33.500
 his SUV for $12,000.

00:37:34.340 --> 00:37:36.099
 And just before he leaves,

00:37:36.380 --> 00:37:38.119
 he's giving me a bit of a discount

00:37:38.119 --> 00:37:39.779
 because he's tried to sell it,

00:37:39.819 --> 00:37:40.440
 he can't sell it,

00:37:40.460 --> 00:37:41.099
 he has to leave,

00:37:41.139 --> 00:37:42.019
 he wants to sell it.

00:37:42.099 --> 00:37:42.819
 And so we agree.

00:37:42.940 --> 00:37:43.559
 And so I say,

00:37:44.079 --> 00:37:44.739
 well, listen here,

00:37:44.779 --> 00:37:46.019
 I can't give you $12,000

00:37:46.019 --> 00:37:46.659
 right off the bat.

00:37:46.739 --> 00:37:48.179
 How about if every month

00:37:48.179 --> 00:37:49.239
 I give you $1,000

00:37:49.239 --> 00:37:51.000
 for 12 months?

00:37:51.019 --> 00:37:52.219
 At the end of the 12 months,

00:37:52.359 --> 00:37:53.579
 you have $12,000

00:37:53.579 --> 00:37:55.859
 and here's $1,000 in cash.

00:37:56.259 --> 00:37:57.699
 And because he's my friend,

00:37:57.839 --> 00:37:59.319
 there's no contract written down.

00:37:59.400 --> 00:38:00.819
 He takes me at my word

00:38:00.819 --> 00:38:02.779
 and he takes $1,000.

00:38:02.779 --> 00:38:03.859
 He gets on the plane,

00:38:03.940 --> 00:38:04.960
 he goes to another country.

00:38:06.039 --> 00:38:07.319
 And now,

00:38:07.320 --> 00:38:09.720
 but he's hoping on that $11,000.

00:38:10.000 --> 00:38:11.480
 $11,000 is a lot of money.

00:38:11.559 --> 00:38:12.400
 It's going to matter to him

00:38:12.400 --> 00:38:13.420
 and he has plans for it.

00:38:13.460 --> 00:38:13.860
 He's going to use

00:38:13.860 --> 00:38:15.420
 the next month's $1,000.

00:38:15.800 --> 00:38:16.380
 He's going to use it

00:38:16.380 --> 00:38:17.500
 to help buy some furniture.

00:38:17.620 --> 00:38:18.120
 Every month,

00:38:18.180 --> 00:38:19.360
 he's going to use that $1,000

00:38:19.360 --> 00:38:20.840
 for me to buy some furniture

00:38:20.840 --> 00:38:22.080
 and do some other things

00:38:22.080 --> 00:38:22.740
 to get set up

00:38:22.740 --> 00:38:23.320
 in the new place

00:38:23.320 --> 00:38:23.800
 that he's living.

00:38:24.220 --> 00:38:25.559
 But the next month comes up

00:38:25.559 --> 00:38:28.240
 and there's no e-transfer

00:38:28.240 --> 00:38:29.660
 from me for $1,000.

00:38:30.100 --> 00:38:31.100
 There's no wiring of money.

00:38:31.180 --> 00:38:31.680
 I don't do it.

00:38:31.680 --> 00:38:32.320
 And in fact,

00:38:33.019 --> 00:38:34.440
 he sends me emails.

00:38:34.559 --> 00:38:35.380
 He tries to call me

00:38:35.380 --> 00:38:35.940
 and he discovers

00:38:35.940 --> 00:38:36.539
 that I've changed

00:38:36.539 --> 00:38:37.400
 my phone number

00:38:37.400 --> 00:38:37.920
 and I've changed

00:38:37.920 --> 00:38:39.160
 my email address.

00:38:39.900 --> 00:38:41.140
 And month and month

00:38:41.140 --> 00:38:42.019
 and month goes by

00:38:42.019 --> 00:38:42.900
 and I don't pay him the money.

00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:43.700
 I stiff him.

00:38:44.539 --> 00:38:45.619
 I stiff him.

00:38:46.960 --> 00:38:48.380
 I keep the van,

00:38:48.880 --> 00:38:49.599
 the SUV.

00:38:50.119 --> 00:38:50.880
 I don't give him

00:38:50.880 --> 00:38:51.740
 the $11,000

00:38:51.740 --> 00:38:52.539
 that I own.

00:38:53.599 --> 00:38:54.780
 And I take means

00:38:54.780 --> 00:38:55.420
 to avoid him.

00:38:56.340 --> 00:38:56.720
 Now,

00:38:57.220 --> 00:38:59.140
 this eats away at him.

00:38:59.140 --> 00:39:00.579
 He thinks about it

00:39:00.579 --> 00:39:01.420
 and thinks about it

00:39:01.420 --> 00:39:02.340
 and thinks about it.

00:39:02.800 --> 00:39:04.159
 He thinks about it

00:39:04.159 --> 00:39:05.000
 every time

00:39:05.000 --> 00:39:06.300
 he's going to buy something

00:39:06.300 --> 00:39:06.960
 and he realizes

00:39:06.960 --> 00:39:07.700
 he was originally

00:39:07.700 --> 00:39:08.780
 going to buy that thing

00:39:08.780 --> 00:39:10.320
 for his new condo

00:39:10.320 --> 00:39:11.200
 or his new apartment

00:39:11.200 --> 00:39:12.000
 or his new house.

00:39:12.079 --> 00:39:12.599
 He was going to use

00:39:12.599 --> 00:39:14.900
 the $1,000 to pay for it.

00:39:15.440 --> 00:39:16.460
 He thinks about

00:39:16.460 --> 00:39:18.099
 going into debt himself

00:39:18.099 --> 00:39:18.960
 that he hadn't planned

00:39:18.960 --> 00:39:20.360
 or reducing his savings

00:39:20.360 --> 00:39:21.380
 that he hadn't planned for.

00:39:21.420 --> 00:39:22.220
 And he thinks about it

00:39:22.220 --> 00:39:23.220
 and it irks him.

00:39:23.280 --> 00:39:24.400
 I've betrayed his friendship.

00:39:24.659 --> 00:39:26.340
 I've broken my word.

00:39:26.579 --> 00:39:27.980
 I've hidden on him.

00:39:28.079 --> 00:39:29.119
 I've ripped him off.

00:39:29.480 --> 00:39:30.639
 And all of those things.

00:39:30.639 --> 00:39:32.219
 And it eats away at him

00:39:32.219 --> 00:39:33.019
 and eats away at him

00:39:33.019 --> 00:39:33.779
 and eats away at him

00:39:33.779 --> 00:39:34.559
 and eats away at him

00:39:34.559 --> 00:39:35.259
 and eats away at him.

00:39:35.440 --> 00:39:35.980
 Now, by the way,

00:39:36.079 --> 00:39:36.859
 just remember

00:39:36.859 --> 00:39:37.299
 one of the things

00:39:37.299 --> 00:39:38.239
 about forgiving yourself?

00:39:38.539 --> 00:39:39.559
 If I told you

00:39:39.559 --> 00:39:40.579
 that I was feeling bad about

00:39:40.579 --> 00:39:41.039
 and I was learning

00:39:41.039 --> 00:39:42.059
 to forgive myself,

00:39:42.139 --> 00:39:42.859
 wouldn't you just say

00:39:42.859 --> 00:39:43.519
 that's just

00:39:43.519 --> 00:39:44.859
 bleepity bleepity bleep?

00:39:46.519 --> 00:39:48.039
 That's not what required,

00:39:48.539 --> 00:39:48.839
 George,

00:39:48.900 --> 00:39:49.859
 if you've done something

00:39:49.859 --> 00:39:50.339
 like that

00:39:50.339 --> 00:39:51.900
 to learn to forgive yourself.

00:39:52.219 --> 00:39:53.500
 That doesn't mean anything.

00:39:53.759 --> 00:39:54.379
 That's, in fact,

00:39:54.519 --> 00:39:55.539
 deeply wrong.

00:39:56.339 --> 00:39:57.179
 But let's go back

00:39:57.179 --> 00:39:57.839
 to my friend.

00:40:00.639 --> 00:40:01.879
 He wants satisfaction

00:40:01.879 --> 00:40:03.019
 at a whole lot of levels.

00:40:03.139 --> 00:40:04.279
 He'd like the $11,000.

00:40:04.639 --> 00:40:05.519
 He'd like an apology.

00:40:05.779 --> 00:40:07.420
 He wants satisfaction

00:40:07.420 --> 00:40:10.960
 as connected to justice.

00:40:12.239 --> 00:40:13.699
 But let's say one day

00:40:13.699 --> 00:40:15.339
 a person who's talking to him

00:40:15.339 --> 00:40:16.039
 and says to him,

00:40:16.059 --> 00:40:16.839
 we'll call him Bob,

00:40:16.940 --> 00:40:17.079
 says,

00:40:17.179 --> 00:40:18.539
 Bob, you're beating yourself up.

00:40:18.639 --> 00:40:18.859
 You know,

00:40:19.059 --> 00:40:20.859
 he lives thousands of,

00:40:21.019 --> 00:40:22.159
 he lives across the ocean,

00:40:22.299 --> 00:40:23.039
 across a continent,

00:40:23.199 --> 00:40:23.859
 across the ocean.

00:40:24.299 --> 00:40:25.420
 You're never going to see him again.

00:40:25.500 --> 00:40:26.639
 You're never going to get the money.

00:40:26.639 --> 00:40:27.779
 And this is just

00:40:27.779 --> 00:40:29.000
 eating away at you,

00:40:29.259 --> 00:40:30.299
 making you bitter.

00:40:30.460 --> 00:40:31.400
 You're losing sleep.

00:40:31.480 --> 00:40:32.819
 You just got to forgive him.

00:40:33.900 --> 00:40:34.679
 And let's say

00:40:34.679 --> 00:40:35.940
 by a bit of a miracle,

00:40:36.159 --> 00:40:37.420
 he is able to forgive me.

00:40:37.940 --> 00:40:38.900
 What happens?

00:40:39.159 --> 00:40:40.500
 He has to pay

00:40:40.500 --> 00:40:42.519
 himself.

00:40:44.139 --> 00:40:46.019
 He has to pay himself

00:40:46.019 --> 00:40:47.259
 the satisfaction.

00:40:47.420 --> 00:40:48.139
 He has to forgo

00:40:48.139 --> 00:40:48.960
 the satisfaction.

00:40:49.159 --> 00:40:49.980
 He has to swallow

00:40:49.980 --> 00:40:51.639
 the loss of $11,000.

00:40:52.460 --> 00:40:54.019
 He has to swallow

00:40:54.019 --> 00:40:56.099
 his desire

00:40:56.099 --> 00:40:58.019
 for me

00:40:58.019 --> 00:40:58.960
 to acknowledge

00:40:58.960 --> 00:40:59.920
 I've done something wrong.

00:41:00.000 --> 00:41:01.059
 He has to swallow

00:41:01.059 --> 00:41:02.940
 the thing he'd wanted to do

00:41:02.940 --> 00:41:04.239
 to maybe let all my family

00:41:04.239 --> 00:41:04.839
 and my friends

00:41:04.839 --> 00:41:05.500
 in the church

00:41:05.500 --> 00:41:06.359
 know that I've been

00:41:06.359 --> 00:41:07.279
 a bad pastor

00:41:07.279 --> 00:41:08.219
 and I've done wrong things.

00:41:08.259 --> 00:41:09.099
 He has to swallow

00:41:09.099 --> 00:41:10.519
 all of his desires

00:41:10.519 --> 00:41:11.359
 for justice.

00:41:13.000 --> 00:41:15.239
 He has to pay

00:41:15.239 --> 00:41:17.079
 the satisfaction

00:41:17.079 --> 00:41:18.679
 that justice requires.

00:41:18.679 --> 00:41:22.480
 Why do people do it?

00:41:23.579 --> 00:41:25.139
 The more you forgive,

00:41:25.460 --> 00:41:26.399
 the more you are free

00:41:26.399 --> 00:41:27.139
 from the evil

00:41:27.139 --> 00:41:27.819
 done to you.

00:41:28.399 --> 00:41:29.379
 That's why our culture

00:41:29.379 --> 00:41:30.699
 understands that there is

00:41:30.699 --> 00:41:31.539
 something powerful

00:41:31.539 --> 00:41:32.259
 about forgiveness.

00:41:32.440 --> 00:41:33.319
 The more you forgive,

00:41:33.419 --> 00:41:34.319
 the more you are free

00:41:34.319 --> 00:41:35.000
 from the evil

00:41:35.000 --> 00:41:35.739
 done to you.

00:41:36.259 --> 00:41:36.539
 You see,

00:41:36.639 --> 00:41:37.639
 the evil that I had done,

00:41:37.679 --> 00:41:38.579
 if I had done this

00:41:38.579 --> 00:41:39.119
 to that man,

00:41:39.199 --> 00:41:40.000
 the evil that I had done

00:41:40.000 --> 00:41:40.259
 to them,

00:41:40.299 --> 00:41:40.940
 it eats him up.

00:41:41.039 --> 00:41:42.519
 It makes him angry,

00:41:42.679 --> 00:41:42.960
 you know.

00:41:43.359 --> 00:41:44.179
 Maybe it makes him

00:41:44.179 --> 00:41:44.960
 afraid to come

00:41:44.960 --> 00:41:46.139
 and maybe he can also

00:41:46.139 --> 00:41:47.739
 be afraid to confront me

00:41:47.739 --> 00:41:48.619
 because maybe I'll say,

00:41:48.679 --> 00:41:50.039
 how dare you say that?

00:41:50.099 --> 00:41:50.239
 Like,

00:41:50.279 --> 00:41:50.919
 you gave it to me

00:41:50.919 --> 00:41:51.659
 for a thousand dollars.

00:41:51.739 --> 00:41:52.419
 You have the paperwork?

00:41:53.139 --> 00:41:53.500
 Like,

00:41:53.980 --> 00:41:54.199
 you know,

00:41:54.219 --> 00:41:55.379
 you didn't sign a contract.

00:41:55.859 --> 00:41:56.759
 I'm not breaking,

00:41:56.919 --> 00:41:57.819
 just your word

00:41:57.819 --> 00:41:58.500
 against mine

00:41:58.500 --> 00:41:59.199
 and maybe I would

00:41:59.199 --> 00:41:59.960
 win the argument

00:41:59.960 --> 00:42:00.960
 and he would get red

00:42:00.960 --> 00:42:01.659
 and flustered

00:42:01.659 --> 00:42:02.219
 and embarrassed

00:42:02.219 --> 00:42:03.779
 and all of that

00:42:03.779 --> 00:42:04.500
 type of thing.

00:42:05.359 --> 00:42:06.759
 But the more you forgive,

00:42:07.159 --> 00:42:08.079
 the more you are free

00:42:08.079 --> 00:42:08.739
 from the evil

00:42:08.739 --> 00:42:09.339
 done to you.

00:42:09.460 --> 00:42:10.799
 He doesn't get consumed

00:42:10.799 --> 00:42:11.399
 by all of this.

00:42:11.480 --> 00:42:12.639
 The great human example

00:42:12.639 --> 00:42:13.159
 about this

00:42:13.159 --> 00:42:14.579
 over the last 20 or 30 years

00:42:14.579 --> 00:42:15.719
 is Nelson Mandela.

00:42:17.319 --> 00:42:18.480
 He wasn't a saint.

00:42:18.679 --> 00:42:19.940
 By any stretch

00:42:19.940 --> 00:42:20.500
 of the imagination,

00:42:20.500 --> 00:42:21.739
 he'd done some wrong things.

00:42:21.859 --> 00:42:22.519
 But the punishment,

00:42:22.659 --> 00:42:23.119
 apartheid,

00:42:23.159 --> 00:42:23.879
 was a great evil

00:42:23.879 --> 00:42:24.480
 and the punishment

00:42:24.480 --> 00:42:25.059
 done to him

00:42:25.059 --> 00:42:26.000
 was a great evil.

00:42:27.039 --> 00:42:28.239
 And one of the things

00:42:28.239 --> 00:42:29.199
 which is so remarkable

00:42:29.199 --> 00:42:30.359
 about Nelson Mandela

00:42:30.359 --> 00:42:31.199
 is that he understood

00:42:31.199 --> 00:42:33.139
 that if he was to be free

00:42:33.139 --> 00:42:35.259
 and if the country

00:42:35.259 --> 00:42:36.399
 was to be free

00:42:36.399 --> 00:42:37.839
 and to move forward

00:42:37.839 --> 00:42:38.539
 and prosper,

00:42:38.659 --> 00:42:39.659
 they had to forgive.

00:42:41.139 --> 00:42:41.859
 They had to,

00:42:41.919 --> 00:42:42.259
 in a sense,

00:42:42.359 --> 00:42:43.279
 pay themselves

00:42:43.279 --> 00:42:44.859
 the satisfaction

00:42:44.859 --> 00:42:46.039
 that justice requires.

00:42:46.039 --> 00:42:47.559
 And somehow or another,

00:42:48.099 --> 00:42:49.039
 that was able,

00:42:49.340 --> 00:42:50.360
 Mandela was able

00:42:50.360 --> 00:42:50.739
 to do that.

00:42:50.779 --> 00:42:51.659
 And we see that around us

00:42:51.659 --> 00:42:52.420
 all the time,

00:42:52.519 --> 00:42:53.440
 that people somehow

00:42:53.440 --> 00:42:54.360
 or another are able,

00:42:54.719 --> 00:42:55.679
 it's not forgetting

00:42:55.679 --> 00:42:58.739
 and it's not making excuses.

00:42:59.259 --> 00:42:59.880
 It's not saying,

00:42:59.980 --> 00:43:00.699
 well, you know,

00:43:00.739 --> 00:43:01.820
 apartheid wasn't really

00:43:01.820 --> 00:43:02.639
 that bad.

00:43:04.019 --> 00:43:04.940
 Can you imagine

00:43:04.940 --> 00:43:05.739
 Nelson Mandela

00:43:05.739 --> 00:43:06.380
 ever saying that?

00:43:06.440 --> 00:43:06.739
 Well,

00:43:07.420 --> 00:43:08.659
 apartheid wasn't really

00:43:08.659 --> 00:43:09.440
 that bad.

00:43:09.579 --> 00:43:09.940
 No,

00:43:10.460 --> 00:43:11.500
 he didn't forget it.

00:43:12.039 --> 00:43:13.300
 He didn't make excuses

00:43:13.300 --> 00:43:13.800
 for it,

00:43:13.820 --> 00:43:14.600
 but he forgave

00:43:14.600 --> 00:43:16.480
 and he was free.

00:43:18.280 --> 00:43:18.980
 But you see,

00:43:19.060 --> 00:43:20.060
 here's the thing.

00:43:22.240 --> 00:43:22.720
 In a sense,

00:43:23.140 --> 00:43:24.060
 in a sense,

00:43:24.140 --> 00:43:24.640
 forgiveness,

00:43:25.220 --> 00:43:25.940
 then,

00:43:26.100 --> 00:43:27.260
 is a bit of a mystery.

00:43:27.960 --> 00:43:29.280
 We know it can happen

00:43:29.280 --> 00:43:31.260
 and we know it's important

00:43:31.260 --> 00:43:33.300
 because when real forgiveness

00:43:33.300 --> 00:43:33.920
 happens,

00:43:34.060 --> 00:43:34.640
 we are free

00:43:34.640 --> 00:43:35.400
 from the evil

00:43:35.400 --> 00:43:36.440
 done to us.

00:43:37.240 --> 00:43:38.680
 Only the gospel

00:43:38.680 --> 00:43:40.019
 grounds

00:43:40.019 --> 00:43:41.539
 the mystery

00:43:41.539 --> 00:43:42.780
 of forgiveness.

00:43:43.300 --> 00:43:46.500
 only the gospel.

00:43:46.980 --> 00:43:48.380
 If that is true,

00:43:48.519 --> 00:43:49.740
 if on the cross,

00:43:49.960 --> 00:43:50.380
 Jesus,

00:43:50.740 --> 00:43:51.760
 God himself,

00:43:52.300 --> 00:43:53.860
 is dying for you

00:43:53.860 --> 00:43:55.260
 because he loves you.

00:43:55.420 --> 00:43:56.720
 Jesus died on the cross

00:43:56.720 --> 00:43:58.240
 to bear

00:43:58.240 --> 00:44:00.039
 the satisfaction,

00:44:00.380 --> 00:44:00.900
 in quotes,

00:44:00.980 --> 00:44:02.320
 that justice requires

00:44:02.320 --> 00:44:04.200
 for the inexcusable wrong

00:44:04.200 --> 00:44:05.240
 that you have done

00:44:05.240 --> 00:44:06.420
 and I have done.

00:44:06.460 --> 00:44:07.039
 In other words,

00:44:07.100 --> 00:44:08.600
 he died that you might be forgiven.

00:44:08.740 --> 00:44:09.480
 That is the gospel.

00:44:09.620 --> 00:44:10.560
 Because he loves you,

00:44:10.660 --> 00:44:11.660
 Jesus died on the cross

00:44:11.660 --> 00:44:12.200
 to bear,

00:44:12.600 --> 00:44:13.019
 in quotes,

00:44:13.019 --> 00:44:14.500
 the satisfaction.

00:44:14.900 --> 00:44:16.019
 He himself bears

00:44:16.019 --> 00:44:17.340
 the satisfaction

00:44:17.340 --> 00:44:18.599
 that justice requires

00:44:18.599 --> 00:44:20.199
 for the inexcusable wrong

00:44:20.199 --> 00:44:21.000
 that you have done,

00:44:21.059 --> 00:44:21.880
 that I have done.

00:44:21.940 --> 00:44:22.460
 In other words,

00:44:22.659 --> 00:44:24.179
 he died that you might be forgiven,

00:44:24.259 --> 00:44:25.460
 that I might be forgiven.

00:44:27.440 --> 00:44:28.300
 That's what's happening

00:44:28.300 --> 00:44:29.000
 on the cross.

00:44:31.699 --> 00:44:34.000
 And because Jesus is God,

00:44:34.679 --> 00:44:34.880
 right,

00:44:34.960 --> 00:44:35.559
 God himself

00:44:35.559 --> 00:44:36.119
 has invaded

00:44:36.119 --> 00:44:36.780
 his creation,

00:44:36.980 --> 00:44:37.699
 created order,

00:44:37.699 --> 00:44:41.299
 that is why you can see

00:44:41.299 --> 00:44:43.019
 that anybody can forgive.

00:44:43.219 --> 00:44:44.500
 If it ever is possible,

00:44:44.559 --> 00:44:45.519
 it grounds it.

00:44:45.899 --> 00:44:46.519
 It makes it

00:44:46.519 --> 00:44:49.000
 understandable

00:44:49.000 --> 00:44:50.359
 if God is,

00:44:50.519 --> 00:44:50.699
 in fact,

00:44:50.739 --> 00:44:51.339
 behind it.

00:44:51.379 --> 00:44:51.839
 He does it

00:44:51.839 --> 00:44:52.739
 on the cross.

00:44:53.159 --> 00:44:53.879
 That's just in terms of,

00:44:54.119 --> 00:44:55.119
 but the cross

00:44:55.119 --> 00:44:55.919
 is more than just

00:44:55.919 --> 00:44:56.639
 grounding it.

00:44:56.739 --> 00:44:57.339
 It's something

00:44:57.339 --> 00:44:58.239
 very important,

00:44:58.339 --> 00:44:58.960
 is that we,

00:44:59.439 --> 00:44:59.879
 in fact,

00:45:00.399 --> 00:45:01.279
 have been separated

00:45:01.279 --> 00:45:02.199
 from our creator

00:45:02.199 --> 00:45:03.379
 and we are in rebellion

00:45:03.379 --> 00:45:04.279
 against him

00:45:04.280 --> 00:45:06.060
 and we are separated

00:45:06.060 --> 00:45:06.860
 from him

00:45:06.860 --> 00:45:07.820
 and what Jesus does

00:45:07.820 --> 00:45:08.460
 on the cross

00:45:08.460 --> 00:45:09.780
 is more than just

00:45:09.780 --> 00:45:10.800
 ground my ability

00:45:10.800 --> 00:45:11.240
 to forgive.

00:45:11.560 --> 00:45:13.000
 He is the means

00:45:13.000 --> 00:45:14.440
 by which I am forgiven

00:45:14.440 --> 00:45:15.420
 by God

00:45:15.420 --> 00:45:17.120
 so that I can once again

00:45:17.120 --> 00:45:18.300
 become his child

00:45:18.300 --> 00:45:21.040
 and live with him forever.

00:45:21.280 --> 00:45:21.500
 And when,

00:45:21.760 --> 00:45:23.019
 the satisfaction

00:45:23.019 --> 00:45:24.060
 that Jesus does

00:45:24.060 --> 00:45:24.800
 for me on the cross

00:45:24.800 --> 00:45:26.019
 is for every wrong

00:45:26.019 --> 00:45:26.600
 that I have done

00:45:26.600 --> 00:45:27.160
 and every good

00:45:27.160 --> 00:45:28.019
 that I fail to do

00:45:28.019 --> 00:45:28.560
 from the moment

00:45:28.560 --> 00:45:29.240
 of my conception

00:45:29.240 --> 00:45:30.200
 to the moment

00:45:30.200 --> 00:45:30.880
 of my death

00:45:30.880 --> 00:45:32.280
 with nothing left over.

00:45:32.380 --> 00:45:33.060
 He knows it all.

00:45:33.160 --> 00:45:33.780
 He sees it all.

00:45:33.780 --> 00:45:34.720
 He forgave it all.

00:45:35.220 --> 00:45:36.260
 And it's on that basis

00:45:36.260 --> 00:45:38.200
 that I am made right

00:45:38.200 --> 00:45:39.040
 with God.

00:45:39.540 --> 00:45:41.460
 Not weighing my merits

00:45:41.460 --> 00:45:43.780
 but pardoning my offenses.

00:45:45.880 --> 00:45:47.140
 A couple of last points

00:45:47.140 --> 00:45:47.300
 then.

00:45:47.360 --> 00:45:48.160
 Here's the first one.

00:45:48.500 --> 00:45:49.120
 And if you want,

00:45:49.180 --> 00:45:49.920
 you can go online

00:45:49.920 --> 00:45:52.220
 and you can see this point.

00:45:52.380 --> 00:45:52.519
 If you,

00:45:52.640 --> 00:45:53.320
 I'm going to just say it

00:45:53.320 --> 00:45:54.000
 very quickly.

00:45:54.220 --> 00:45:54.920
 I just want to bring,

00:45:55.000 --> 00:45:56.420
 I've already gone 45 minutes.

00:45:56.580 --> 00:45:57.300
 I just want to bring it

00:45:57.300 --> 00:45:57.760
 to a close.

00:45:57.840 --> 00:45:58.360
 Here's the thing.

00:45:58.720 --> 00:45:59.460
 When you have done

00:45:59.460 --> 00:46:00.340
 something wrong,

00:46:01.000 --> 00:46:02.080
 you should never seek

00:46:02.080 --> 00:46:03.140
 to forgive yourself.

00:46:03.780 --> 00:46:05.519
 You need to die

00:46:05.519 --> 00:46:06.340
 to your pride,

00:46:07.019 --> 00:46:07.980
 humble yourself,

00:46:08.720 --> 00:46:09.920
 acknowledge the wrong

00:46:09.920 --> 00:46:10.660
 you have done,

00:46:11.420 --> 00:46:11.880
 repent,

00:46:13.120 --> 00:46:14.720
 seek to amend your life,

00:46:15.180 --> 00:46:16.120
 where possible,

00:46:16.620 --> 00:46:17.620
 make restitution,

00:46:18.220 --> 00:46:21.160
 and then ask the other person

00:46:21.160 --> 00:46:22.180
 for forgiveness.

00:46:23.320 --> 00:46:24.160
 Say it again,

00:46:24.240 --> 00:46:25.000
 but you can go online

00:46:25.000 --> 00:46:25.940
 and see it if you want

00:46:25.940 --> 00:46:27.160
 at Messiah.ca,

00:46:27.300 --> 00:46:27.600
 at church,

00:46:27.720 --> 00:46:27.940
 you know,

00:46:27.960 --> 00:46:29.320
 just Google Church of the Messiah

00:46:29.320 --> 00:46:31.840
 sermons on August the 25th.

00:46:32.080 --> 00:46:33.100
 It's a sermon called

00:46:33.100 --> 00:46:34.519
 The Man Who Can Forgive Sin.

00:46:35.580 --> 00:46:36.340
 Just say it again,

00:46:36.400 --> 00:46:36.900
 when you have done

00:46:36.900 --> 00:46:37.600
 something wrong,

00:46:37.680 --> 00:46:38.580
 you should never seek

00:46:38.580 --> 00:46:39.580
 to forgive yourself.

00:46:40.200 --> 00:46:41.580
 You need to die to your pride,

00:46:42.360 --> 00:46:43.180
 humble yourself,

00:46:43.920 --> 00:46:44.820
 acknowledge the wrong

00:46:44.820 --> 00:46:45.380
 you have done,

00:46:45.940 --> 00:46:46.200
 repent,

00:46:47.039 --> 00:46:48.620
 seek to amend your life,

00:46:49.180 --> 00:46:49.940
 where possible,

00:46:50.059 --> 00:46:50.840
 make restitution,

00:46:50.940 --> 00:46:52.360
 and then ask for forgiveness.

00:46:52.840 --> 00:46:53.880
 And here's the final point

00:46:53.880 --> 00:46:54.519
 I want to leave with you

00:46:54.519 --> 00:46:55.120
 before I pray.

00:46:55.119 --> 00:46:56.239
 Because of the gospel,

00:46:57.279 --> 00:46:58.539
 I will come to Jesus

00:46:58.539 --> 00:46:59.279
 for forgiveness.

00:47:00.059 --> 00:47:01.799
 I will proclaim to all

00:47:01.799 --> 00:47:03.139
 and sundry his offer

00:47:03.139 --> 00:47:04.259
 of full forgiveness,

00:47:04.679 --> 00:47:05.779
 and I will learn

00:47:05.779 --> 00:47:07.799
 to become one who forgives

00:47:07.799 --> 00:47:08.880
 for the good of the world

00:47:08.880 --> 00:47:09.980
 and the glory of the Lord.

00:47:10.019 --> 00:47:10.719
 I'll say that again.

00:47:10.779 --> 00:47:11.799
 Because of the gospel,

00:47:11.900 --> 00:47:12.920
 that's the good news

00:47:12.920 --> 00:47:15.940
 of what Jesus came to earth

00:47:15.940 --> 00:47:17.460
 to do and accomplish

00:47:17.460 --> 00:47:18.900
 for you and me on the cross,

00:47:18.940 --> 00:47:19.699
 all out of love.

00:47:19.799 --> 00:47:20.960
 Because of the gospel,

00:47:21.079 --> 00:47:22.099
 I will come to Jesus

00:47:22.099 --> 00:47:22.819
 for forgiveness.

00:47:23.619 --> 00:47:25.039
 I will proclaim to all

00:47:25.039 --> 00:47:26.400
 and sundry his offer

00:47:26.400 --> 00:47:27.360
 of full forgiveness,

00:47:27.619 --> 00:47:28.820
 and I will learn

00:47:28.820 --> 00:47:30.279
 to become one who forgives

00:47:30.279 --> 00:47:31.679
 for the good of the world

00:47:31.679 --> 00:47:32.940
 and the glory of the Lord.

00:47:33.840 --> 00:47:34.279
 Friends,

00:47:34.320 --> 00:47:35.599
 there's no time better than now

00:47:35.599 --> 00:47:36.679
 if you have not done it

00:47:36.679 --> 00:47:38.219
 to call out to Jesus

00:47:38.219 --> 00:47:39.880
 and ask him to be your Savior

00:47:39.880 --> 00:47:40.300
 and your Lord,

00:47:40.360 --> 00:47:41.139
 to thank him

00:47:41.139 --> 00:47:42.980
 for dying on the cross

00:47:42.980 --> 00:47:46.000
 so that the justice

00:47:46.000 --> 00:47:47.219
 that you could not bear,

00:47:47.360 --> 00:47:48.119
 that he would bear

00:47:48.119 --> 00:47:49.099
 on your behalf,

00:47:49.300 --> 00:47:50.639
 that you might be forgiven,

00:47:51.179 --> 00:47:52.159
 and that by putting

00:47:52.159 --> 00:47:53.139
 your faith and trust

00:47:53.139 --> 00:47:53.619
 in Jesus

00:47:53.619 --> 00:47:54.759
 that you can become

00:47:54.760 --> 00:47:56.480
 God's child forever.

00:47:56.560 --> 00:47:57.360
 You can be made right

00:47:57.360 --> 00:47:57.920
 with God

00:47:57.920 --> 00:47:59.320
 as you call out to him

00:47:59.320 --> 00:48:00.980
 to come into your life,

00:48:01.780 --> 00:48:04.320
 to be your Savior and Lord,

00:48:04.440 --> 00:48:05.620
 that you thank him

00:48:05.620 --> 00:48:06.640
 for what he's done for you.

00:48:06.800 --> 00:48:07.720
 Call out to Jesus.

00:48:08.560 --> 00:48:09.600
 Father, I ask that you

00:48:09.600 --> 00:48:10.800
 pour out the Holy Spirit

00:48:10.800 --> 00:48:12.680
 upon all who have heard this,

00:48:13.200 --> 00:48:14.840
 both those on the Sunday morning

00:48:14.840 --> 00:48:15.980
 at Church of the Messiah

00:48:15.980 --> 00:48:17.160
 a few weeks ago

00:48:17.160 --> 00:48:18.220
 as I'm recording this

00:48:18.220 --> 00:48:19.300
 and all who are listening

00:48:19.300 --> 00:48:19.840
 to it now.

00:48:19.840 --> 00:48:20.160
 Father,

00:48:20.820 --> 00:48:22.620
 help us to forgive.

00:48:23.460 --> 00:48:24.500
 Grip us with the gospel

00:48:24.500 --> 00:48:25.220
 and as we are gripped

00:48:25.220 --> 00:48:25.820
 by the gospel,

00:48:25.960 --> 00:48:26.920
 help us to forgive.

00:48:27.820 --> 00:48:28.600
 Help us, Father,

00:48:28.680 --> 00:48:29.079
 as we are gripped

00:48:29.079 --> 00:48:29.800
 by the gospel

00:48:29.800 --> 00:48:30.800
 to acknowledge

00:48:30.800 --> 00:48:31.780
 when we have done wrong

00:48:31.780 --> 00:48:32.660
 and seek forgiveness.

00:48:33.539 --> 00:48:34.440
 But most of all,

00:48:34.519 --> 00:48:34.800
 Father,

00:48:35.120 --> 00:48:35.900
 grip us again

00:48:35.900 --> 00:48:36.720
 with the beauty

00:48:36.720 --> 00:48:37.340
 and the glory

00:48:37.340 --> 00:48:38.120
 of the gospel,

00:48:38.320 --> 00:48:39.160
 how Jesus

00:48:39.160 --> 00:48:41.220
 bore in himself

00:48:41.220 --> 00:48:42.180
 the satisfaction

00:48:42.180 --> 00:48:43.380
 that justice required

00:48:43.380 --> 00:48:44.420
 so that I could be

00:48:44.420 --> 00:48:45.400
 forgiven by you

00:48:45.400 --> 00:48:47.519
 and by faith in Jesus

00:48:47.519 --> 00:48:48.900
 become your child forever.

00:48:49.119 --> 00:48:49.340
 Father,

00:48:49.760 --> 00:48:50.920
 grip us with this truth

00:48:50.920 --> 00:48:51.619
 and this I ask

00:48:51.619 --> 00:48:52.579
 in Jesus' name.

00:48:53.200 --> 00:48:53.500
 Amen.