WEBVTT

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 We are in Luke chapter 4, verses 14 to 44.

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 If you would please find your seats and we will begin with the reading and preaching of God's Word.

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 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's Word.

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 Heavenly Father, we come to worship and we come to sit and submit under the reading and preaching of your Word.

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 Lord, because we want to be citizens of the Kingdom of God, because we want to be oriented toward you.

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 Because we don't want to be too comfortable here where we are aliens.

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 We want to live with the priorities and purposes of the Kingdom of God.

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 So Lord, help us, shape us, speak to us, O Lord.

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 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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 Luke chapter 4, verses 14 to 44.

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 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee.

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 And a report about Him went out through all the surrounding country.

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 And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

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 And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up.

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 And as was His custom, He went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and He stood up to read.

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 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Him.

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 He unrolled the scroll and found a place where it was written,

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 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

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 He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind.

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 To set at liberty those who are oppressed.

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 To proclaim the ear of the Lord's favor.

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 And He rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down.

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 And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

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 And He began to say to them,

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 Today, this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.

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 And all spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from His mouth.

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 And they said,

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 Is not this Joseph's son?

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 And He said to them,

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 Doubtless, you will quote to me this proverb,

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 Physician, heal yourself.

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 What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.

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 And He said,

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 Truly I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.

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 But in truth I tell you,

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 There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah.

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 When the heavens were shut up three years and six months,

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 And a great famine came over all the land.

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 And Elijah was sent to none of them,

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 But only to Zarephath in the land of Sidon,

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 To a woman who was a widow.

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 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha.

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 And none of them was cleansed,

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 But only Naaman the Syrian.

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 When they heard these things,

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 All in the synagogue were filled with wrath.

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 And they rose up and drove him out of the town,

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 And brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built,

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 So that they could throw him down a cliff.

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 But passing through their midst,

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 He went away.

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 And he went down to Capernaum,

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 A city of Galilee.

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 And he was teaching them on the Sabbath.

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 And they were astonished at his teaching,

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 For his word possessed authority.

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 And in the synagogue,

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 There was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon.

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 And he cried out with a loud voice,

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 Ha!

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 What have you to do with us,

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 Jesus of Nazareth?

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 Have you come to destroy us?

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 I know who you are,

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 The Holy One of God.

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 But Jesus rebuked him,

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 Saying,

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 Be silent,

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 And come out of him.

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 And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst,

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 He came out of him,

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 Having done him no harm.

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 And they were all amazed,

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 And said to one another,

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 What is this word?

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 For with authority and power,

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 He commands the unclean spirits.

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 And they come out.

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 And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

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 And he arose and left the synagogue,

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 And entered Simon's house.

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 Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever.

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 And they appealed to him on her behalf.

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 And he stood over her,

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 And rebuked the fever.

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 And it left her.

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 And immediately she rose,

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 And began to serve them.

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 Now when the sun was setting,

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 All those who had any who were sick with various diseases,

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 Jesus brought them to him,

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 And he laid his hands on every one of them,

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 And healed them.

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 And demons also came out of many,

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 Crying,

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 You are the Son of God.

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 But he rebuked them,

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 And would not allow them to speak,

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 Because they knew that he was the Christ.

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 And when it was day,

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 He departed and went into a desolate place,

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 And the people sought him and came to him,

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 And would have kept him from leaving them.

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 But he said to them,

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 I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God,

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 To the other towns as well.

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 For I was sent for this purpose.

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 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

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 This is the word of the Lord.

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 With malice toward none,

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 With charity for all,

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 With firmness in the right,

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 As God gives us to see the light,

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 Let us strive on to finish the work we are in,

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 To bind up the nation's wounds,

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 To care for him who shall have borne the battle,

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 And for his widow and his orphan,

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 To do all which may achieve and cherish a just,

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 And lasting peace among ourselves,

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 And with all nations.

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 How many of you guys recognize those words?

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 This is the second inaugural address of Abraham Lincoln,

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 March 4th, 1865.

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 Famous words spoken on his inauguration day,

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 Following the Civil War,

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 Which remains the bloodiest war in American history to this day.

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 And inaugural speeches are notable

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 Because they kind of set the tone for the term of the president.

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 They lay down their agenda.

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 And nowadays,

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 A lot of people talk about the first hundred days of a president's term,

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 To determine whether or not he's effectively keeping the promises that he had made.

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 And in last week's passage,

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 We saw Jesus' baptism,

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 Which Luke in Acts 10 calls the anointing of Jesus,

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 With the Holy Spirit and with power.

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 So this shows that the baptism serves for Luke,

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 As the inauguration of Jesus as the Messianic King,

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 Because you anoint kings.

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 And having begun his reign,

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 We now see in Luke 14-34,

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 That Luke positions Jesus' inaugural speech,

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 His address,

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 As taking place in the synagogue in Nazareth.

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 And he gives us a glimpse of Jesus' first days of ministry there.

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 So this is the king's agenda.

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 This is the ruler's program.

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 And we can break down the passage in the following manner.

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 And that's the king's message,

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 And the king's ministry,

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 And the king's mission,

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 In the last part of chapter 4.

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 And the main point of this whole passage is that today,

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 We must choose to come under the rule of Christ the king.

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 That's the main point of this passage.

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 Now verses 14-15 introduce us to the newly anointed king,

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 And the initial reaction of the people.

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 And it says,

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 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee,

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 And a report about him went out through all the surrounding country,

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 And he taught in their synagogues,

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 Being glorified by all.

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 So Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit,

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 And led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness for a period of testing,

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 And now he returns from there in the power of the Spirit to Galilee,

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 Which is the region his parents he grew up in.

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 And it says that a report about him went out through all the surrounding country.

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 The word report here is the Greek word from which we get the English word fame.

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 In our celebrity culture, so many people seek fame.

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 Sometimes even ministers of the gospel succumb to that temptation,

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 Trying to build fame,

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 To build a social media platform,

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 Or to court book publishers,

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 Solicit speaking engagements,

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 And sometimes even resorting to controversial statements,

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 And headline grabbing gimmicks.

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 But these verses tell us that it's not a publicity stunt,

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 But the power of the Spirit that leads Jesus to the fame and glory he initially receives for his teaching.

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 It's not the eloquence of the preacher,

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 Or the perceived relevance of the preacher,

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 But the preaching of the word of God,

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 In the power of the Spirit of God,

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 That counts.

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 And that's what Jesus does.

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 And after the Babylonian captivity,

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 And the destruction of the temple,

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 The worship of the Jews had dispersed out of the temple,

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 Because it was destroyed,

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 To the synagogues,

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 Which became the new focal point of Jewish worship.

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 And it was customary for the men,

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 And the leaders of the local Jewish communities,

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 To read a passage of scripture,

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 And then to teach in their weekly gatherings.

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 And so Jesus apparently partook in this regularly,

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 And he was initially very well received.

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 It says that he was being glorified by all.

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 And verses 16 to 20,

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 Give us an example of one of Jesus' sermons.

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 Which Luke places here,

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 As Jesus' first address,

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 As the anointed king.

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 And these verses are structured chiastically,

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 Meaning that they have a mirroring structure,

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 That funnels kind of the attention to the center,

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 Center of the narrative,

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 The passage.

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 So modern writers put what they think is the most important,

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 What they want to emphasize in the end.

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 Ancient writers put what they wanted to emphasize in the middle,

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 And they had kind of mirroring elements,

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 That pointed to that middle.

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 So to show you,

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 In verse 16,

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 It mentions the synagogue,

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 And the synagogue is mentioned again in verse 20.

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 Verse 16 says that Jesus stood up to read,

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 And in verse 20,

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 Jesus sat down.

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 Verse 17 says that the scroll was given to Jesus,

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 And that he unrolled the scroll,

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 And in verse 20 says that Jesus rolled up the scroll,

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 And gave it back to the attendant.

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 And so this kind of structure,

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 Chiastic structure,

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 Focuses all the attention on the scripture,

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 That Jesus cites from Isaiah,

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 In verses 18 to 19.

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 And these verses are a combination of quotations,

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 From Isaiah 61,

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 1 to 2,

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 And Isaiah 42,

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 Verse 7,

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 And Isaiah 58,

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 Verse 6.

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 And it's not uncommon,

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 Throughout scripture,

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 To find different passages of scripture,

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 Kind of string together,

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 Spiced together this way.

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 One of the best interpretive principles,

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 When we're reading scripture on our own,

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 Is to let scripture interpret scripture.

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 Because scripture is a unified,

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 Single book,

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 With the divine inspiration,

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 And because it's all interconnected,

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 You can use the less,

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 You can use the more clear parts in scripture,

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 To illuminate the less clear parts.

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 And often there are connections,

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 That if you use the cross references in your Bibles,

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 It often leads to very helpful,

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 And insightful details.

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 And so,

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 So that's what's happening here,

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 Jesus is using these passages together,

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 And they all point to,

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 They're all prophetic passages,

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 Dealing with the coming of the messianic king.

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 So this is what the messianic king is all about.

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 This is Jesus' program,

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 His agenda.

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 And this citation is also structured chiastically.

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 So to proclaim good news to the poor,

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 In verse 18,

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 Matches to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,

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 In verse 19,

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 And to proclaim liberty to the captives,

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 Matches to set at liberty those who are oppressed.

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 So these are all images of deliverance,

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 That parallel the description of the Jubilee year.

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 In Leviticus 25,

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 8 to 17,

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 God commanded that His people observe,

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 What's called the Jubilee year.

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 It was called the year of the Lord's favor.

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 On the 50th year,

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 Which is the year after seven cycles of seven years,

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 It was that they were supposed to celebrate Jubilee,

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 By canceling all the debts that were owed,

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 All financial debts,

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 And they were supposed to free to all the slaves that they had.

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 And this was the year when everyone,

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 Every slave would be redeemed,

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 And every debtor would be forgiven.

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 And messianic king is the one who proclaims the good news of Jubilee,

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 Of liberation of slaves and forgiveness of debtors.

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 So this message obviously has social implications.

00:14:03.259 --> 00:14:07.200
 But we must be careful not to reduce the message of King Jesus

00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:08.720
 To a mere social gospel.

00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:11.080
 Because Jesus was not,

00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:14.700
 As some of the revisionist historians like to claim,

00:14:15.139 --> 00:14:17.940
 A political or socialistic revolutionary.

00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:21.500
 Jesus never attempted to stage a political revolution,

00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:23.180
 To topple the Roman Empire,

00:14:23.580 --> 00:14:26.259
 Nor did He ever seek a socialistic revolution,

00:14:26.460 --> 00:14:29.759
 In which the proletariat class would overthrow the bourgeoisie.

00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:33.460
 Instead, He sought to create a counter-cultural community,

00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:36.420
 A contrast community of transformed disciples,

00:14:36.419 --> 00:14:40.159
 Who would live under the rule of Christ the King,

00:14:40.579 --> 00:14:42.620
 And who would embody the kingdom's principles.

00:14:43.399 --> 00:14:46.419
 And we know this because Luke uses these images as metaphors,

00:14:47.199 --> 00:14:49.459
 Of spiritual forgiveness and liberation,

00:14:49.939 --> 00:14:51.159
 Throughout the gospel of Luke,

00:14:51.219 --> 00:14:52.079
 And in the book of Acts.

00:14:52.339 --> 00:14:53.919
 The primary debt,

00:14:54.419 --> 00:14:55.939
 From which we need forgiveness,

00:14:56.699 --> 00:14:58.839
 In Luke is not financial debt,

00:14:59.099 --> 00:15:00.240
 But spiritual debt.

00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:02.360
 So it says,

00:15:02.919 --> 00:15:04.560
 In Luke 11,

00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:05.100
 4,

00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:06.220
 This is the Lord's prayer,

00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:06.840
 Look,

00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:08.580
 Forgive us our sins,

00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:11.139
 For we ourselves forgive everyone,

00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:13.759
 Who is indebted to us.

00:15:14.139 --> 00:15:16.200
 The primary loan forgiveness,

00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:17.659
 In view in the gospel of Luke,

00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:20.720
 Is the forgiveness of our debt of sin.

00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:23.700
 And the primary liberation in view,

00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:24.440
 In the gospel of Luke,

00:15:24.500 --> 00:15:27.040
 Is also our liberation from slavery to sin.

00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:30.120
 And let this be a reminder to all of us,

00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:32.940
 That your biggest problem right now in your life,

00:15:33.180 --> 00:15:35.360
 Is not that you don't have enough money,

00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:36.600
 It's not that,

00:15:36.680 --> 00:15:38.580
 It's that you have a debt of sin,

00:15:38.800 --> 00:15:40.639
 That you can never hope to repay.

00:15:41.899 --> 00:15:43.820
 Your biggest problem in this world,

00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:45.720
 Is not the oppressive,

00:15:46.040 --> 00:15:46.720
 Unjust world,

00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:47.180
 World,

00:15:47.180 --> 00:15:49.180
 That holds you captive,

00:15:49.180 --> 00:15:50.840
 And keeps you back,

00:15:51.060 --> 00:15:53.500
 But it's your slavery to sin,

00:15:53.580 --> 00:15:54.560
 That is the biggest problem.

00:15:55.899 --> 00:15:57.620
 And Christ the King offers good news,

00:15:57.680 --> 00:15:59.040
 That he brings forgiveness,

00:15:59.580 --> 00:16:00.860
 That he brings freedom,

00:16:01.460 --> 00:16:04.220
 If only you would humble yourself before him,

00:16:04.460 --> 00:16:05.860
 By repenting of your sins,

00:16:06.139 --> 00:16:08.160
 And believing in him for salvation.

00:16:10.420 --> 00:16:11.960
 So when verse 18 says,

00:16:12.100 --> 00:16:13.300
 That Jesus was anointed,

00:16:13.580 --> 00:16:15.200
 And sent by the Holy Spirit,

00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:16.279
 To proclaim good news,

00:16:16.279 --> 00:16:17.019
 To the poor,

00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:18.959
 It does not mean,

00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:19.980
 That God's salvation,

00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:21.339
 Is only for those,

00:16:21.419 --> 00:16:22.740
 Who are economically poor,

00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:24.899
 Because if that's the case,

00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:26.539
 Half of us would not be saved,

00:16:27.339 --> 00:16:29.699
 The gospel of Luke,

00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:31.059
 Does have a special concern,

00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:31.759
 For the poor,

00:16:32.199 --> 00:16:33.259
 But the poor here,

00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:34.899
 Is a generalization,

00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:36.480
 A category for all those,

00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:37.980
 Who are of humble estate,

00:16:38.259 --> 00:16:40.199
 As Luke 1.52 talked about,

00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:42.039
 And those who have humbled themselves,

00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:42.539
 Before God,

00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:43.480
 And therefore are open,

00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:45.039
 To receiving the grace of God,

00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:46.980
 And that's why later,

00:16:47.099 --> 00:16:48.259
 In Luke chapter 6,

00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:49.620
 20 to 26,

00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:51.339
 In the Beatitudes,

00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:52.000
 Jesus says,

00:16:52.099 --> 00:16:53.000
 Blessed are you,

00:16:53.099 --> 00:16:53.899
 Who are poor,

00:16:54.199 --> 00:16:56.139
 For yours is kingdom,

00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:57.179
 Of God.

00:16:57.879 --> 00:16:58.659
 The poor,

00:16:58.879 --> 00:16:59.639
 In this passage,

00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:00.819
 In Luke chapter 6,

00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:02.879
 Are compared to the prophets of God,

00:17:02.959 --> 00:17:04.240
 Who are rejected by the world,

00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:05.399
 And then the rich,

00:17:05.639 --> 00:17:07.159
 Are compared to the false prophets,

00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:08.899
 Who are acclaimed by the world.

00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:09.940
 And that's why,

00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:10.799
 The parallel verse,

00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:12.000
 In Matthew 5.3,

00:17:12.100 --> 00:17:13.240
 Explains it a little bit further,

00:17:13.340 --> 00:17:13.559
 It says,

00:17:13.660 --> 00:17:15.759
 Blessed are the poor in spirit,

00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:17.720
 For theirs is the kingdom,

00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:18.700
 Of heaven.

00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:20.299
 And that's why,

00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:21.660
 Even the rich tax collector,

00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:22.360
 Zacchaeus,

00:17:22.620 --> 00:17:23.620
 In Luke 19,

00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:24.620
 Can get saved,

00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:26.080
 Because even though he is rich,

00:17:26.460 --> 00:17:27.940
 He is poor in spirit.

00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:30.180
 With all of that said,

00:17:30.600 --> 00:17:31.480
 Generally speaking,

00:17:31.900 --> 00:17:33.340
 It's still true,

00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:34.580
 That most of those,

00:17:34.680 --> 00:17:35.420
 Who respond,

00:17:35.620 --> 00:17:36.740
 To Jesus' message,

00:17:36.840 --> 00:17:38.380
 Are those who are poor.

00:17:38.380 --> 00:17:41.160
 The economically poor,

00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:42.560
 Are often,

00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:43.560
 Though not always,

00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:44.580
 The spiritually poor.

00:17:45.340 --> 00:17:45.920
 And that's why,

00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:47.340
 Jesus says in Luke 18,

00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:48.380
 24-25,

00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:49.760
 How difficult,

00:17:50.380 --> 00:17:51.280
 It is for those,

00:17:51.360 --> 00:17:52.100
 Who have wealth,

00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:53.640
 To enter the kingdom of God.

00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:55.260
 For it is easier,

00:17:55.360 --> 00:17:56.460
 For a camel to go through,

00:17:56.540 --> 00:17:57.260
 The eye of a needle,

00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:58.560
 Than for a rich person,

00:17:58.640 --> 00:18:01.060
 To enter the kingdom of God.

00:18:01.700 --> 00:18:02.860
 The rich are often,

00:18:02.860 --> 00:18:03.640
 Too proud,

00:18:03.960 --> 00:18:04.840
 And self-sufficient,

00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:05.760
 To humble themselves,

00:18:05.860 --> 00:18:06.360
 Before God.

00:18:06.359 --> 00:18:09.319
 So Paul speaks of this reality,

00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:11.319
 In 1 Corinthians 1,

00:18:11.379 --> 00:18:12.439
 26-29,

00:18:12.839 --> 00:18:14.099
 For consider your calling,

00:18:14.219 --> 00:18:14.479
 Brothers,

00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:15.959
 Not many of you were wise,

00:18:16.019 --> 00:18:17.539
 According to worldly standards,

00:18:17.859 --> 00:18:19.059
 Not many were powerful,

00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:21.119
 Not many were of noble birth,

00:18:21.199 --> 00:18:22.159
 But God chose,

00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:23.579
 What is foolish in the world,

00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:24.899
 To shame the wise,

00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:25.579
 God chose,

00:18:25.659 --> 00:18:26.639
 What is weak in the world,

00:18:26.699 --> 00:18:27.759
 To shame the strong,

00:18:28.119 --> 00:18:28.599
 God chose,

00:18:28.659 --> 00:18:29.299
 What is low,

00:18:29.399 --> 00:18:30.699
 And despised in the world,

00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:31.959
 Even things that are not,

00:18:31.959 --> 00:18:33.219
 To bring to nothing,

00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:34.099
 Things that are,

00:18:34.099 --> 00:18:35.839
 So that no human being,

00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:36.619
 Might boast,

00:18:36.919 --> 00:18:38.579
 In the presence of God,

00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:40.079
 This is God's,

00:18:40.079 --> 00:18:41.879
 Salvation planned,

00:18:42.399 --> 00:18:43.319
 That those who claim,

00:18:43.419 --> 00:18:44.039
 To be wise,

00:18:44.139 --> 00:18:45.139
 And reject the word of God,

00:18:45.199 --> 00:18:46.039
 Would not be saved,

00:18:46.119 --> 00:18:47.079
 That those who profess,

00:18:47.399 --> 00:18:48.519
 Their ignorance,

00:18:48.819 --> 00:18:50.119
 And submit to God's wisdom,

00:18:50.219 --> 00:18:50.839
 That they alone,

00:18:50.959 --> 00:18:51.759
 Would be saved,

00:18:52.219 --> 00:18:52.959
 That those who claim,

00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:53.659
 To be rich,

00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:54.179
 And noble,

00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:54.859
 And powerful,

00:18:55.159 --> 00:18:56.379
 And claim that they don't need God,

00:18:56.439 --> 00:18:57.279
 Would not be saved,

00:18:57.399 --> 00:18:58.980
 But only those who humble themselves,

00:18:59.079 --> 00:19:00.059
 And acknowledge their weakness,

00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:01.539
 And desperate need for God,

00:19:01.579 --> 00:19:01.959
 Will be saved,

00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:03.019
 That's the way,

00:19:03.100 --> 00:19:04.640
 In which God has chosen to save,

00:19:04.840 --> 00:19:06.799
 So that only he would receive the glory,

00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:10.319
 And that's why it's said,

00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:11.940
 That Jesus proclaims,

00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:13.900
 Good news to the poor,

00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:16.920
 It's those who have humbled themselves,

00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:18.559
 Under the rule of Christ the king,

00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:20.360
 That who humbly serve others,

00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:21.319
 So have you,

00:19:21.620 --> 00:19:23.200
 Humbled yourself before the king,

00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:26.340
 If as Christians,

00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:27.380
 We find ourselves,

00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:28.759
 Gravitating toward,

00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:30.259
 And associating only,

00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:31.500
 With the powerful,

00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:32.819
 And the rich,

00:19:33.819 --> 00:19:36.779
 Then we should let this,

00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:38.019
 Inaugural address,

00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:39.900
 Remind us,

00:19:40.539 --> 00:19:42.079
 That the gospel of Jesus Christ,

00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:44.119
 Is good news to the poor,

00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:48.819
 We still haven't addressed,

00:19:48.940 --> 00:19:49.660
 The central,

00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:51.140
 And therefore the most emphasized,

00:19:51.379 --> 00:19:52.319
 Element of the chiasm,

00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:53.700
 And that's verse 18,

00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:56.200
 The recovering of sight,

00:19:56.339 --> 00:19:57.039
 To the blind,

00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:58.579
 It's the one element,

00:19:58.579 --> 00:19:59.700
 In that whole structure,

00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:01.180
 That doesn't have a matching element,

00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:02.480
 It's right at the center,

00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:04.639
 It's what our attention,

00:20:04.819 --> 00:20:06.139
 Our eyes are directed toward,

00:20:06.779 --> 00:20:08.480
 And Jesus literally,

00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:09.960
 Opens the eyes of the blind,

00:20:10.180 --> 00:20:11.579
 Throughout the gospel of Luke,

00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:12.659
 A couple occasions,

00:20:13.099 --> 00:20:14.980
 But there's also an important motif,

00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:16.259
 Of spiritual blindness,

00:20:17.139 --> 00:20:18.399
 Speaking of his disciples,

00:20:18.879 --> 00:20:20.279
 Need for his teaching,

00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:21.460
 In Luke chapter 6,

00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:22.119
 Verse 39,

00:20:22.619 --> 00:20:24.460
 Jesus uses a parable of blindness,

00:20:24.460 --> 00:20:24.920
 He says,

00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:26.460
 Can a blind man,

00:20:26.539 --> 00:20:27.460
 Lead a blind man,

00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:28.779
 Will they not both,

00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:30.019
 Fall into a pit,

00:20:30.420 --> 00:20:33.380
 And then he continues,

00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:34.740
 In verse 40,

00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:35.579
 That a disciple,

00:20:35.779 --> 00:20:37.180
 Is not above his teacher,

00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:38.039
 But everyone,

00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.059
 When he is fully trained,

00:20:39.120 --> 00:20:40.539
 Will be like his teacher,

00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:41.860
 So that's,

00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:42.680
 Jesus is saying,

00:20:42.840 --> 00:20:44.120
 That they need him,

00:20:44.259 --> 00:20:45.039
 His discipleship,

00:20:45.100 --> 00:20:46.100
 As one who sees,

00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:47.120
 To show the blind,

00:20:47.180 --> 00:20:47.720
 And to see,

00:20:48.140 --> 00:20:49.019
 As he does,

00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:50.620
 And in chapter 8,

00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:51.120
 Verse 10,

00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:51.960
 Jesus mentions,

00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:53.960
 Those who are seeing,

00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:55.360
 Yet do not see,

00:20:55.660 --> 00:20:57.519
 So it's in front of spiritual blindness,

00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:59.240
 They have eyes to see,

00:20:59.319 --> 00:21:00.039
 But they don't see,

00:21:00.120 --> 00:21:01.059
 The spiritual realities,

00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:02.880
 And this theme of Jesus,

00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:04.579
 Leading his blind disciples,

00:21:04.579 --> 00:21:06.140
 To see as he does,

00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:08.500
 Is fulfilled in Luke 24,

00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:10.720
 Where two of Jesus' disciples,

00:21:10.900 --> 00:21:12.180
 Are on the road to Emmaus,

00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:14.279
 And the resurrected Jesus,

00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:15.779
 Joins them on their journey,

00:21:16.380 --> 00:21:17.000
 And but it says,

00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:18.039
 In chapter 24,

00:21:18.180 --> 00:21:18.940
 Verse 16,

00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:19.779
 That,

00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:21.860
 But their eyes were kept,

00:21:21.860 --> 00:21:23.400
 From recognizing him,

00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:25.400
 And it's only after,

00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:27.440
 Jesus interprets to them,

00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:28.880
 All the scriptures,

00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:31.039
 That spoke about him,

00:21:31.080 --> 00:21:31.820
 And pointed to him,

00:21:32.140 --> 00:21:33.279
 And it's only after,

00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:34.980
 He blesses and breaks bread,

00:21:35.059 --> 00:21:35.380
 With them,

00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:36.360
 This is essentially,

00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:38.100
 The first worship service,

00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:39.660
 Presided over by,

00:21:39.860 --> 00:21:41.259
 The very resurrected Lord,

00:21:42.100 --> 00:21:43.039
 It's only afterward,

00:21:43.140 --> 00:21:43.519
 It says that,

00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:45.180
 Their eyes were opened,

00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:47.120
 And they recognized him,

00:21:47.340 --> 00:21:48.140
 That's the goal,

00:21:48.140 --> 00:21:48.940
 Of discipleship,

00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:49.780
 In the gospel of Luke,

00:21:50.060 --> 00:21:51.600
 The end of discipleship,

00:21:51.640 --> 00:21:52.940
 Is that the people's eyes,

00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:53.860
 May be opened,

00:21:54.080 --> 00:21:55.360
 To see Jesus,

00:21:55.460 --> 00:21:56.540
 As he truly is,

00:21:57.060 --> 00:21:58.720
 To recognize who he is,

00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.520
 It was a typical,

00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:02.800
 In Jewish synagogues,

00:22:02.940 --> 00:22:05.440
 For someone to come,

00:22:05.540 --> 00:22:06.220
 Speaker to come,

00:22:06.300 --> 00:22:07.160
 And to read,

00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:08.280
 The scripture,

00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:09.220
 Standing up,

00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:10.620
 And then after reading,

00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:11.120
 The scripture,

00:22:11.320 --> 00:22:12.520
 He would sit back down,

00:22:12.660 --> 00:22:14.000
 To give the instruction,

00:22:14.380 --> 00:22:15.140
 The exposition,

00:22:15.620 --> 00:22:16.180
 Of the sermon,

00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:17.420
 The sermon,

00:22:17.600 --> 00:22:17.779
 Really,

00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:18.799
 Of the passage,

00:22:19.600 --> 00:22:20.840
 And then it's because of that,

00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.700
 After Jesus,

00:22:21.860 --> 00:22:22.519
 Bees and then,

00:22:22.560 --> 00:22:23.299
 Gives the scroll back,

00:22:23.380 --> 00:22:24.200
 And sits down,

00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:25.120
 He says in verse 20,

00:22:25.340 --> 00:22:26.360
 The eyes of all,

00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:26.980
 In the synagogue,

00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:28.799
 Were fixed on him,

00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:30.000
 They were waiting,

00:22:30.100 --> 00:22:30.700
 For him to speak,

00:22:30.779 --> 00:22:31.920
 With rapt attention,

00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:33.940
 And Luke,

00:22:34.100 --> 00:22:34.720
 Summarizes,

00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:35.779
 Jesus' sermon,

00:22:35.900 --> 00:22:36.560
 From that day,

00:22:36.920 --> 00:22:38.580
 Into a single sentence,

00:22:39.100 --> 00:22:40.039
 In verse 21,

00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:41.599
 Jesus,

00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:42.460
 Jesus began,

00:22:42.460 --> 00:22:43.440
 To say to them,

00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:45.059
 Today,

00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:47.019
 The scripture,

00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:48.579
 Has been fulfilled,

00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:49.859
 In your hearing,

00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:52.019
 The word today,

00:22:52.139 --> 00:22:53.099
 Is a significant,

00:22:53.099 --> 00:22:54.319
 Theological word,

00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:55.720
 In Luke's gospel,

00:22:56.319 --> 00:22:57.559
 Because he uses it,

00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:58.319
 Repeatedly,

00:22:58.460 --> 00:22:59.680
 To highlight the fact,

00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:00.899
 That the window,

00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:01.680
 Of opportunity,

00:23:01.859 --> 00:23:03.119
 The hour of salvation,

00:23:03.639 --> 00:23:04.500
 Is now,

00:23:04.859 --> 00:23:05.960
 This very moment,

00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:08.460
 James 4,

00:23:08.539 --> 00:23:09.059
 14,

00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:09.600
 Tells us,

00:23:09.620 --> 00:23:10.660
 Yet you do not know,

00:23:10.759 --> 00:23:12.000
 What tomorrow will bring,

00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:13.259
 What is your life,

00:23:13.340 --> 00:23:14.340
 For you are a mist,

00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:15.259
 That appears,

00:23:15.380 --> 00:23:16.279
 For a little time,

00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:17.600
 And then vanishes,

00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:20.539
 The day of scripture's,

00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:21.180
 Fulfillment,

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:22.319
 To the day of salvation,

00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:23.400
 Is today,

00:23:23.559 --> 00:23:24.480
 Not tomorrow,

00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:25.940
 Which you may,

00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:26.779
 Or may not have,

00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:29.380
 If you are not yet,

00:23:29.420 --> 00:23:30.299
 A follower of Jesus Christ,

00:23:30.380 --> 00:23:31.559
 I urge you to consider,

00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:32.880
 His invitation,

00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:34.220
 To respond today,

00:23:34.360 --> 00:23:35.500
 That hour of salvation,

00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.920
 That window opportunity,

00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:38.559
 Is not to be postponed,

00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:39.720
 It's today,

00:23:40.299 --> 00:23:41.180
 The Lord saves,

00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:43.859
 And verse 22,

00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:44.640
 Tells us that,

00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:46.220
 All spoke well of him,

00:23:46.839 --> 00:23:47.660
 And marveled,

00:23:47.660 --> 00:23:48.500
 At the gracious words,

00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:49.640
 That were coming from his mouth,

00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:52.220
 Seems,

00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:53.720
 At this point,

00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:54.799
 They didn't quite grasp,

00:23:55.099 --> 00:23:55.880
 The grasp of everything,

00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:56.579
 That he was saying,

00:23:56.940 --> 00:23:57.599
 But they're starting,

00:23:57.720 --> 00:23:58.680
 To get a little clue,

00:23:58.900 --> 00:24:00.160
 Because their amazement,

00:24:00.660 --> 00:24:02.140
 Turns into skepticism,

00:24:02.339 --> 00:24:02.460
 Which,

00:24:02.660 --> 00:24:03.700
 As it often does,

00:24:04.599 --> 00:24:05.420
 And the murmur,

00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:06.079
 Among themselves,

00:24:06.619 --> 00:24:07.539
 Is this not,

00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:09.240
 Joseph's son,

00:24:09.880 --> 00:24:13.279
 Familiarity,

00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:14.140
 Breeds content,

00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:14.779
 Right,

00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:16.359
 Jesus,

00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:17.240
 Has just made,

00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:18.000
 A grand,

00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:19.099
 Audacious claim,

00:24:19.160 --> 00:24:19.599
 For himself,

00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:20.400
 And people begin,

00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:21.019
 To question,

00:24:21.140 --> 00:24:22.059
 His parentage,

00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:23.539
 Now,

00:24:23.619 --> 00:24:24.079
 Notice that,

00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:24.700
 Over the last,

00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:25.420
 Couple of chapters,

00:24:25.619 --> 00:24:26.640
 The identity of Jesus,

00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.619
 As the son of God,

00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:28.460
 The messianic king,

00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:29.059
 Has been,

00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:30.400
 The central issue,

00:24:30.519 --> 00:24:31.339
 The main issue at hand,

00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:32.500
 And as baptism,

00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:33.220
 God the father,

00:24:33.299 --> 00:24:33.720
 Declared,

00:24:33.819 --> 00:24:34.579
 That Jesus is,

00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:35.799
 His beloved son,

00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:36.680
 And Jesus,

00:24:37.339 --> 00:24:38.099
 Genealogy,

00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:39.059
 Following that,

00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:39.519
 Declared,

00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:40.839
 That he is the son of God,

00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:41.660
 And the devil,

00:24:41.819 --> 00:24:42.619
 Tempted Jesus,

00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:43.519
 By saying,

00:24:43.799 --> 00:24:45.200
 If you are the son of God,

00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:46.180
 Do such and such,

00:24:46.339 --> 00:24:47.119
 So the question,

00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:47.839
 Of his identity,

00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:48.940
 Comes to the fore again,

00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:50.019
 And the people are asking,

00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:51.359
 Is not this,

00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:52.660
 Joseph's son,

00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:54.160
 Whose son is he?

00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:55.680
 We know,

00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:56.519
 Who that is,

00:24:56.940 --> 00:24:57.220
 Joseph,

00:24:57.880 --> 00:24:58.700
 He's a nice guy,

00:24:58.819 --> 00:24:59.059
 Sure,

00:24:59.059 --> 00:25:01.059
 But he followed the Messiah,

00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:05.460
 The son of God,

00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:07.639
 He followed the king,

00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:10.579
 Legally,

00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:10.899
 Yes,

00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:12.480
 It's true that Joseph is,

00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:14.399
 Jesus' adoptive father,

00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:15.899
 But the deeper reality,

00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:18.019
 That the people do not yet grasp,

00:25:18.139 --> 00:25:20.159
 Is that Jesus is the son of God,

00:25:21.099 --> 00:25:23.159
 And so seeing the skepticism of the people,

00:25:23.599 --> 00:25:25.000
 Jesus anticipates their objection,

00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:26.319
 And he says in verse 23,

00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:27.480
 Doubtless,

00:25:27.879 --> 00:25:28.819
 You will quote to me,

00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:29.379
 The saying,

00:25:30.139 --> 00:25:34.700
 The proverb,

00:25:34.939 --> 00:25:35.460
 Physician,

00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:36.240
 Heal yourself,

00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:39.960
 What we have heard you did at Capernaum,

00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:41.919
 Do here in your hometown as well,

00:25:42.419 --> 00:25:45.579
 Jesus is anticipating that the people will ask him to perform signs,

00:25:45.679 --> 00:25:46.700
 To prove himself,

00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:48.039
 Prior to this,

00:25:48.099 --> 00:25:49.619
 Jesus was ministering in Capernaum,

00:25:49.679 --> 00:25:51.619
 And he performed miraculous signs there,

00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:54.179
 And the people of his hometown are basically saying to him,

00:25:54.399 --> 00:25:54.579
 Hey,

00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.679
 Show us the stuff,

00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:56.299
 I mean,

00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:57.220
 Prove to us,

00:25:57.339 --> 00:25:58.480
 That you are who you say,

00:25:58.480 --> 00:25:59.079
 You are,

00:25:59.079 --> 00:26:03.380
 A person selling a cure for baldness,

00:26:03.539 --> 00:26:06.059
 Cannot himself have a receding hairline,

00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:06.400
 Right?

00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:08.240
 So it says,

00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:09.819
 That's essentially what's going,

00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:10.620
 What the proverb is,

00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:10.779
 Hey,

00:26:10.839 --> 00:26:11.420
 Physician,

00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:12.460
 Heal yourself,

00:26:12.599 --> 00:26:14.380
 If you're so good at healing other people's sicknesses,

00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.640
 You should not be sick yourself,

00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:17.480
 Show me that you can do this,

00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:18.980
 If you are who you say you are,

00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:21.240
 And verses 24 to 27,

00:26:21.380 --> 00:26:21.539
 It says,

00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:24.240
 Jesus issues a stinging rebuke to them,

00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:25.740
 Truly I say to you,

00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:28.759
 No prophet is acceptable in his hometown,

00:26:29.140 --> 00:26:30.460
 But in truth I tell you,

00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:33.079
 There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah,

00:26:33.220 --> 00:26:34.220
 When the heavens were shut up,

00:26:34.620 --> 00:26:35.860
 Three years and six months,

00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:38.039
 And a great famine came over all the land,

00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:40.299
 And Elijah was sent to none of them,

00:26:40.379 --> 00:26:42.599
 But only to Zarephath in the land of Sidon,

00:26:42.659 --> 00:26:43.619
 To a woman was a widow,

00:26:44.200 --> 00:26:47.299
 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha,

00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:49.059
 And none of them was cleansed,

00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:50.659
 But only Naaman the Syrian,

00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:53.039
 In verse 19,

00:26:53.180 --> 00:26:56.980
 Jesus declared that he proclaimed the ear of the Lord's favor,

00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:59.500
 Another way to translate that is to say,

00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:00.379
 It's the ear,

00:27:00.639 --> 00:27:02.299
 The acceptable ear of the Lord,

00:27:02.619 --> 00:27:05.420
 And that same word acceptable is used in verse 27,

00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:06.400
 When Jesus says,

00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:09.060
 No prophet is acceptable in his hometown,

00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:10.560
 So ironically,

00:27:11.080 --> 00:27:13.680
 Even though Jesus has come as the Messiah,

00:27:14.060 --> 00:27:18.200
 And as the king who declares the acceptable ear of the Lord,

00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:20.100
 His people,

00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:21.460
 The very ones he came to save,

00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:23.180
 Find him unacceptable,

00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:26.900
 And so Jesus,

00:27:27.860 --> 00:27:32.100
 Alludes to 1 Kings 17 and 18,

00:27:32.100 --> 00:27:34.539
 In the time of the prophet Elijah,

00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.220
 And Elijah,

00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:36.980
 When God worked miracles,

00:27:37.180 --> 00:27:40.119
 On behalf of humble and believing foreigners,

00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:43.759
 Instead of for the proud and unbelieving Jews,

00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:45.879
 So this is a stern warning,

00:27:45.879 --> 00:27:47.079
 Warning that Jesus is issuing,

00:27:47.159 --> 00:27:47.559
 He's saying,

00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:50.200
 Salvation has come from the Jews,

00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:51.299
 Jesus is Jewish,

00:27:52.359 --> 00:27:55.079
 But if you stubbornly refuse to believe,

00:27:55.839 --> 00:27:58.059
 It will not come to the Jews,

00:27:58.519 --> 00:28:00.680
 But only to the Gentiles,

00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:04.240
 This is an early hint of the fact,

00:28:04.360 --> 00:28:05.680
 That Jesus comes to save,

00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:06.700
 Not only the Jews,

00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:08.120
 But all peoples,

00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:08.860
 All nations,

00:28:09.380 --> 00:28:10.620
 Good news to the poor,

00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:13.140
 And the people in the synagogue,

00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:15.340
 Understand this point,

00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:16.519
 Exceptionally well,

00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:18.960
 And they say in verse 28,

00:28:19.060 --> 00:28:21.140
 That they were filled with wrath,

00:28:21.380 --> 00:28:23.120
 And look at how fickle these people are,

00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:24.960
 They go from glorifying Jesus,

00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:26.799
 To speaking well,

00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:27.700
 And speaking well of him,

00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:29.620
 And to wanting to kill him on the same day,

00:28:29.619 --> 00:28:33.179
 I don't know why,

00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:35.339
 Knowing that this is the nature of humanity,

00:28:35.339 --> 00:28:38.879
 That we ever hang on people's words of approval,

00:28:38.879 --> 00:28:40.379
 Like it defines us,

00:28:40.459 --> 00:28:40.639
 Right?

00:28:42.119 --> 00:28:43.419
 This is what man is,

00:28:44.639 --> 00:28:46.219
 They try to lynch Jesus,

00:28:46.339 --> 00:28:47.979
 By throwing him off the cliff,

00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:50.519
 But Jesus escapes through their midst,

00:28:50.659 --> 00:28:51.679
 And went away,

00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:54.500
 The king's message,

00:28:54.619 --> 00:28:55.579
 This is the king's message,

00:28:55.739 --> 00:28:57.399
 And it confronts us with the choice,

00:28:57.400 --> 00:29:00.019
 You can either reject him as your king,

00:29:00.080 --> 00:29:01.820
 Or submit to him as your king,

00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:04.200
 There is no neutral middle ground,

00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:06.480
 The people of Jesus' hometown,

00:29:06.620 --> 00:29:07.620
 Make the wrong choice,

00:29:07.620 --> 00:29:13.019
 So verse 31 tells us,

00:29:13.080 --> 00:29:14.680
 Jesus went down to Capernaum,

00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:15.720
 A city of Galilee,

00:29:15.800 --> 00:29:16.700
 A different city,

00:29:16.800 --> 00:29:18.220
 In the same region of Galilee,

00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:20.040
 And we saw in Nazareth,

00:29:20.120 --> 00:29:21.740
 An example of the king's message,

00:29:21.840 --> 00:29:22.740
 And here in Capernaum,

00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:24.500
 We see an example of the king's ministry,

00:29:24.839 --> 00:29:27.660
 As Jesus did in Nazareth,

00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:29.519
 He teaches people on a weekly basis,

00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:30.259
 On a Sabbath,

00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:32.039
 And verse 32 tells us,

00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:33.380
 That the people here too,

00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:35.259
 Were astonished at his teaching,

00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:36.319
 For his word,

00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:38.220
 Possessed authority,

00:29:38.220 --> 00:29:40.200
 Throughout the Gospel of Luke,

00:29:40.299 --> 00:29:41.640
 Jesus is seen as the one,

00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:43.660
 Who declares the word of God,

00:29:44.180 --> 00:29:45.339
 So in his sequel,

00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:46.299
 The book of Acts,

00:29:46.539 --> 00:29:48.220
 Luke traces the growth,

00:29:48.420 --> 00:29:50.160
 And spread of the word of God,

00:29:50.160 --> 00:29:51.720
 He talks about the word of God,

00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:53.279
 As if it had its own agency,

00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:54.759
 He says the word of God,

00:29:54.820 --> 00:29:55.980
 Continued to increase,

00:29:56.080 --> 00:29:56.960
 He says the word of God,

00:29:57.100 --> 00:29:57.840
 Multiplied,

00:29:58.340 --> 00:30:00.440
 So the mention of Jesus' word,

00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:01.200
 Here tells us that,

00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:02.500
 Jesus is one who is speaking,

00:30:02.700 --> 00:30:03.480
 From God,

00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:05.160
 And for God,

00:30:05.560 --> 00:30:06.840
 His word is not empty,

00:30:07.080 --> 00:30:08.700
 But it comes with authority,

00:30:09.180 --> 00:30:10.080
 And that's what the people,

00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:11.920
 Found impressive about Jesus' teaching,

00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:13.900
 But how did the people know,

00:30:14.019 --> 00:30:15.759
 That his word,

00:30:15.860 --> 00:30:16.620
 Possessed authority,

00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:18.519
 It's not referring to the fact,

00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:20.559
 That he just speaks forcefully,

00:30:21.139 --> 00:30:21.940
 Or eloquently,

00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:24.079
 It's referring to spiritual authority,

00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:24.559
 And power,

00:30:24.660 --> 00:30:26.200
 So verses 33 to 37,

00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:27.180
 Give us an example,

00:30:27.460 --> 00:30:28.319
 Of that authority,

00:30:29.139 --> 00:30:30.240
 It says in verse 33,

00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:31.220
 And in the synagogue,

00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:32.200
 There was a man,

00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:33.279
 Who had the spirit,

00:30:33.379 --> 00:30:35.400
 Of an unclean demon,

00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:38.139
 The fact that this demon,

00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:39.220
 Is unclean,

00:30:39.359 --> 00:30:41.299
 Suggests that something about it,

00:30:41.379 --> 00:30:42.960
 Is spiritually defiling,

00:30:43.639 --> 00:30:43.839
 Right,

00:30:43.879 --> 00:30:44.660
 In the Old Testament,

00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:46.339
 Especially the book of Leviticus,

00:30:46.339 --> 00:30:48.619
 There are meticulously detailed instructions,

00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:50.279
 Of distinguishing things that are clean,

00:30:50.459 --> 00:30:51.519
 And things that are unclean,

00:30:52.179 --> 00:30:53.659
 So the general principle,

00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:54.579
 Seems to be,

00:30:54.799 --> 00:30:55.399
 In the book,

00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:56.619
 That what is clean,

00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:58.599
 Reflects the wholeness,

00:30:59.119 --> 00:31:01.059
 And order of God's creation,

00:31:01.579 --> 00:31:02.959
 And what is unclean,

00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:05.179
 Reflects some kind of deficiency,

00:31:05.859 --> 00:31:06.740
 Or deviation,

00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:08.220
 From God's wholeness,

00:31:08.439 --> 00:31:09.599
 And order in creation,

00:31:10.299 --> 00:31:11.339
 So to give you an example,

00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:13.059
 Animals that conform,

00:31:13.059 --> 00:31:14.539
 To their own kinds,

00:31:15.159 --> 00:31:16.159
 Are considered clean,

00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:17.559
 And fit for human consumption,

00:31:17.839 --> 00:31:19.220
 But animals that confuse,

00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:19.960
 Their kinds,

00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:20.679
 For example,

00:31:20.919 --> 00:31:22.700
 Fish that don't have scales,

00:31:22.839 --> 00:31:23.259
 And fins,

00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:25.139
 Or flying insects,

00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:26.379
 That have many legs,

00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:27.879
 And are considered unclean,

00:31:28.619 --> 00:31:30.279
 A person who has clean skin,

00:31:30.379 --> 00:31:31.179
 As well as a person,

00:31:31.240 --> 00:31:32.440
 Whose entire skin,

00:31:32.539 --> 00:31:33.299
 Has been affected,

00:31:33.460 --> 00:31:34.480
 By some kind of color,

00:31:34.599 --> 00:31:35.259
 Discoloration,

00:31:35.819 --> 00:31:36.839
 Are considered clean,

00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:38.159
 But a person,

00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:39.299
 Who is partially covered,

00:31:39.399 --> 00:31:40.279
 With skin disease,

00:31:40.519 --> 00:31:41.779
 Is deemed unclean,

00:31:41.779 --> 00:31:42.700
 Because that person,

00:31:42.839 --> 00:31:44.660
 Represents a deviation,

00:31:44.660 --> 00:31:45.960
 From the wholeness,

00:31:46.279 --> 00:31:48.039
 And order of God's creation,

00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:49.379
 That whole system,

00:31:49.639 --> 00:31:51.379
 Is intended to point to the fact,

00:31:51.460 --> 00:31:52.619
 That there is such a thing,

00:31:52.819 --> 00:31:53.859
 As a creative order,

00:31:54.139 --> 00:31:55.299
 That there is such a thing,

00:31:55.379 --> 00:31:56.160
 As wholeness,

00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:57.480
 And that something,

00:31:57.660 --> 00:31:58.579
 Is amiss in the world,

00:31:58.680 --> 00:31:59.420
 And that eventually,

00:31:59.539 --> 00:32:00.700
 God's sending his son,

00:32:00.839 --> 00:32:02.359
 To make everything right again,

00:32:02.420 --> 00:32:03.240
 To restore that order,

00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:04.299
 Now,

00:32:04.680 --> 00:32:05.059
 That's,

00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:06.339
 The fact that this spirit,

00:32:06.460 --> 00:32:06.660
 Is unclean,

00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:09.019
 Shows that this demon,

00:32:09.139 --> 00:32:09.720
 This spirit,

00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:12.019
 Is not in sync,

00:32:12.100 --> 00:32:13.220
 With the natural order,

00:32:13.220 --> 00:32:14.700
 That God instituted,

00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:15.180
 In creation,

00:32:15.400 --> 00:32:16.319
 It's a spirit,

00:32:16.420 --> 00:32:18.220
 That is not in proper relationship,

00:32:18.220 --> 00:32:19.220
 Of servitude,

00:32:19.319 --> 00:32:19.860
 Before God,

00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:21.279
 It's a rebellious spirit,

00:32:21.360 --> 00:32:22.120
 It's an evil spirit,

00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:23.559
 Now,

00:32:23.640 --> 00:32:24.079
 Even though,

00:32:24.200 --> 00:32:25.220
 The Nazarene Jews,

00:32:25.360 --> 00:32:26.319
 Did not recognize,

00:32:26.440 --> 00:32:27.299
 Jesus' true identity,

00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:28.240
 The demon,

00:32:28.500 --> 00:32:29.640
 Knows immediately,

00:32:29.960 --> 00:32:31.019
 Who Jesus is,

00:32:31.380 --> 00:32:32.460
 And sounds his alarm,

00:32:32.539 --> 00:32:33.299
 In verse 34,

00:32:33.299 --> 00:32:34.460
 Ha,

00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:36.099
 What have you,

00:32:36.099 --> 00:32:37.480
 To do with us,

00:32:37.619 --> 00:32:38.539
 Jesus of Nazareth,

00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:40.039
 Have you come,

00:32:40.139 --> 00:32:41.500
 To destroy us,

00:32:42.259 --> 00:32:43.359
 I know,

00:32:43.539 --> 00:32:44.359
 Who you are,

00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:45.639
 The holy one of God,

00:32:45.639 --> 00:32:47.659
 He's saying,

00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:48.659
 We have nothing,

00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:49.579
 To do with each other,

00:32:49.659 --> 00:32:49.919
 Jesus,

00:32:50.980 --> 00:32:51.879
 We're unclean,

00:32:51.960 --> 00:32:52.859
 You're the holy one,

00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:54.419
 Why interfere,

00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:55.339
 Let me be,

00:32:56.139 --> 00:32:57.059
 And this demon,

00:32:57.220 --> 00:32:57.940
 Is nervous,

00:32:58.279 --> 00:32:58.879
 And defensive,

00:32:59.180 --> 00:32:59.460
 Here,

00:32:59.559 --> 00:33:00.279
 And it's interesting,

00:33:00.440 --> 00:33:00.980
 That the demon,

00:33:01.159 --> 00:33:02.220
 Even though it's one demon,

00:33:02.220 --> 00:33:03.480
 Uses the plural pronoun,

00:33:03.700 --> 00:33:04.000
 Us,

00:33:04.319 --> 00:33:04.680
 Twice,

00:33:05.600 --> 00:33:06.019
 He's like,

00:33:06.120 --> 00:33:06.759
 A golem,

00:33:07.220 --> 00:33:08.240
 In the Lord of the Rings,

00:33:08.339 --> 00:33:08.539
 Right?

00:33:09.380 --> 00:33:10.819
 I think the demon here,

00:33:10.819 --> 00:33:12.059
 Is speaking,

00:33:12.420 --> 00:33:13.360
 For himself,

00:33:13.559 --> 00:33:13.700
 But,

00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:15.299
 But also for the man,

00:33:15.380 --> 00:33:16.420
 That he has possessed,

00:33:16.920 --> 00:33:18.420
 He's speaking like,

00:33:18.600 --> 00:33:19.640
 He owns the man,

00:33:19.860 --> 00:33:20.220
 He's saying,

00:33:20.440 --> 00:33:21.920
 If you want to get to him,

00:33:22.299 --> 00:33:24.200
 You will have to get through me,

00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:26.579
 If you want to destroy me,

00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:28.200
 You'll have to destroy him,

00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:31.819
 So here's an instance,

00:33:32.220 --> 00:33:33.539
 Of conflict,

00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:35.759
 Between the rightful king,

00:33:35.860 --> 00:33:36.500
 The coming king,

00:33:36.660 --> 00:33:37.880
 Who has the holy spirit,

00:33:38.339 --> 00:33:39.420
 And this rebellious,

00:33:39.680 --> 00:33:40.620
 Unclean spirit,

00:33:41.120 --> 00:33:42.539
 And Jesus responds,

00:33:42.920 --> 00:33:43.559
 Decisively,

00:33:43.559 --> 00:33:44.600
 In verse 35,

00:33:45.319 --> 00:33:46.779
 But Jesus rebuked him,

00:33:46.920 --> 00:33:47.220
 Saying,

00:33:47.460 --> 00:33:48.279
 Be silent,

00:33:48.819 --> 00:33:49.700
 And come out of him,

00:33:50.700 --> 00:33:51.339
 And when the demon,

00:33:51.339 --> 00:33:52.839
 Had thrown him down,

00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:53.519
 In their midst,

00:33:53.759 --> 00:33:54.980
 He came out of him,

00:33:55.339 --> 00:33:56.480
 Having done him no harm,

00:33:57.059 --> 00:33:58.120
 And they were all amazed,

00:33:58.200 --> 00:33:58.940
 And said to one another,

00:33:59.059 --> 00:34:00.160
 What is this word?

00:34:00.160 --> 00:34:01.740
 For with authority and power,

00:34:01.820 --> 00:34:03.340
 He commands the unclean spirits,

00:34:03.540 --> 00:34:04.820
 And they come out,

00:34:05.360 --> 00:34:06.460
 And reports about him,

00:34:06.519 --> 00:34:07.600
 Went out into every place,

00:34:07.640 --> 00:34:08.599
 In the surrounding region,

00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:10.300
 The word rebuke,

00:34:10.380 --> 00:34:11.700
 It could be used more generally,

00:34:11.800 --> 00:34:12.800
 Just to refer to anyone,

00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:13.940
 Rebuking another person,

00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:15.000
 But especially,

00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:17.700
 In this kind of text,

00:34:17.880 --> 00:34:19.039
 In Jewish context,

00:34:19.400 --> 00:34:20.180
 The word rebuke,

00:34:20.260 --> 00:34:21.539
 Is the technical term,

00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:22.220
 That you use,

00:34:22.460 --> 00:34:23.900
 To refer to the subjugation,

00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:24.740
 Of evil spirits,

00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:26.840
 To subdue an evil spirit,

00:34:26.840 --> 00:34:28.160
 And by his word,

00:34:28.240 --> 00:34:29.579
 Here Jesus subdues,

00:34:29.660 --> 00:34:30.340
 The evil spirit,

00:34:30.680 --> 00:34:31.920
 He silences him,

00:34:32.100 --> 00:34:32.940
 And expels him,

00:34:33.320 --> 00:34:34.880
 And Jesus silences him,

00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:35.460
 Most likely,

00:34:35.600 --> 00:34:36.519
 Because he doesn't want,

00:34:36.559 --> 00:34:37.740
 The demon to reveal,

00:34:38.059 --> 00:34:39.400
 Jesus' true identity,

00:34:40.120 --> 00:34:41.140
 This is confirmed,

00:34:41.300 --> 00:34:42.840
 By verses 41 to 42,

00:34:43.240 --> 00:34:44.360
 We just skip ahead,

00:34:44.460 --> 00:34:44.900
 For a second,

00:34:45.019 --> 00:34:46.100
 And read 41 and 42,

00:34:46.200 --> 00:34:46.680
 With me verses,

00:34:47.480 --> 00:34:48.039
 It says,

00:34:48.160 --> 00:34:49.720
 And demons also came out,

00:34:49.740 --> 00:34:50.140
 Of many,

00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:50.960
 Crying,

00:34:51.059 --> 00:34:52.440
 You are the son of God,

00:34:52.800 --> 00:34:54.039
 But he rebuked them,

00:34:54.079 --> 00:34:54.860
 And would not allow them,

00:34:54.860 --> 00:34:55.340
 To speak,

00:34:55.340 --> 00:34:56.420
 Because they knew,

00:34:56.620 --> 00:34:58.160
 That he was the Christ,

00:34:59.120 --> 00:35:00.100
 So people,

00:35:00.340 --> 00:35:01.760
 Need to believe in Jesus,

00:35:01.940 --> 00:35:03.120
 On his terms,

00:35:03.380 --> 00:35:04.240
 On the testimony,

00:35:04.380 --> 00:35:05.380
 Of his word,

00:35:05.700 --> 00:35:07.079
 And it's not time yet,

00:35:07.120 --> 00:35:07.600
 For Jesus,

00:35:07.780 --> 00:35:08.800
 To go to the cross,

00:35:08.860 --> 00:35:09.600
 To die for the sins,

00:35:09.640 --> 00:35:10.240
 Of his people,

00:35:10.500 --> 00:35:11.900
 So the demon's testimony,

00:35:12.039 --> 00:35:12.760
 Regarding him,

00:35:12.940 --> 00:35:13.720
 Is premature,

00:35:14.039 --> 00:35:14.740
 And inappropriate,

00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:16.660
 In this way,

00:35:16.720 --> 00:35:17.079
 Jesus,

00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:19.620
 Separates the unholy union,

00:35:19.680 --> 00:35:20.320
 Between the man,

00:35:20.360 --> 00:35:21.160
 And the unclean demon,

00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:22.579
 And he accomplishes,

00:35:22.579 --> 00:35:23.579
 The feat of not only,

00:35:23.660 --> 00:35:24.740
 Exercising the demon,

00:35:24.739 --> 00:35:26.419
 But also protecting the man,

00:35:26.500 --> 00:35:27.299
 So that he is left,

00:35:27.379 --> 00:35:28.319
 With no harm,

00:35:29.179 --> 00:35:30.679
 This amazes the people,

00:35:30.819 --> 00:35:31.559
 And they talk about,

00:35:32.139 --> 00:35:32.759
 Once again,

00:35:33.419 --> 00:35:34.500
 Not just the miracle,

00:35:34.679 --> 00:35:35.619
 But they focus on,

00:35:35.799 --> 00:35:36.379
 The word,

00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:38.239
 What is this word,

00:35:38.799 --> 00:35:39.559
 His teaching,

00:35:40.839 --> 00:35:41.839
 That is accompanied,

00:35:42.019 --> 00:35:42.779
 By such authority,

00:35:42.879 --> 00:35:43.219
 And power,

00:35:43.219 --> 00:35:49.299
 I don't know,

00:35:49.299 --> 00:35:50.019
 If this is new,

00:35:50.019 --> 00:35:51.739
 For a lot of you,

00:35:52.199 --> 00:35:53.459
 Some people,

00:35:53.579 --> 00:35:54.339
 Obviously in our culture,

00:35:54.399 --> 00:35:54.859
 Are skeptical,

00:35:54.859 --> 00:35:56.039
 About these kinds of stories,

00:35:56.119 --> 00:35:57.819
 Because our culture,

00:35:57.919 --> 00:35:58.899
 Is very materialistic,

00:35:58.980 --> 00:35:59.839
 And naturalistic,

00:35:59.980 --> 00:36:01.500
 And if there's no,

00:36:01.500 --> 00:36:02.719
 Naturalistic explanations,

00:36:02.919 --> 00:36:03.659
 Or material positive,

00:36:03.759 --> 00:36:04.359
 We assume that,

00:36:04.659 --> 00:36:05.719
 It cannot exist,

00:36:05.839 --> 00:36:06.039
 Right?

00:36:06.519 --> 00:36:07.159
 But I think,

00:36:07.399 --> 00:36:09.399
 That's a logical fallacy,

00:36:09.599 --> 00:36:09.739
 Right?

00:36:09.739 --> 00:36:10.479
 It's almost like,

00:36:10.479 --> 00:36:11.179
 A drunk person,

00:36:11.419 --> 00:36:11.819
 Someone,

00:36:11.979 --> 00:36:13.819
 Used this illustration,

00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:14.419
 I think it was,

00:36:15.379 --> 00:36:16.179
 Planting,

00:36:16.419 --> 00:36:17.019
 Alvin Planting,

00:36:17.179 --> 00:36:17.759
 A boss,

00:36:17.839 --> 00:36:18.259
 Right over there,

00:36:18.319 --> 00:36:18.579
 And he says,

00:36:18.639 --> 00:36:19.519
 It's like a drunk person,

00:36:19.519 --> 00:36:19.979
 That goes,

00:36:20.339 --> 00:36:21.159
 That's looking for,

00:36:21.299 --> 00:36:22.000
 A tea that he dropped,

00:36:22.099 --> 00:36:22.539
 On the street,

00:36:23.119 --> 00:36:24.079
 And then he only,

00:36:24.079 --> 00:36:25.199
 Looks under the lamp,

00:36:26.039 --> 00:36:26.479
 And he said,

00:36:26.539 --> 00:36:27.139
 Why are you looking,

00:36:27.399 --> 00:36:28.039
 Only under the lamp,

00:36:28.099 --> 00:36:28.919
 It could be anywhere,

00:36:29.399 --> 00:36:29.599
 He said,

00:36:29.659 --> 00:36:29.819
 Well,

00:36:29.820 --> 00:36:30.740
 Because that's where,

00:36:30.800 --> 00:36:31.420
 The light is,

00:36:31.559 --> 00:36:32.420
 It's gotta be here,

00:36:32.580 --> 00:36:32.760
 Right?

00:36:32.880 --> 00:36:33.039
 I mean,

00:36:33.059 --> 00:36:33.700
 That's kind of what,

00:36:33.760 --> 00:36:34.280
 The drunk person,

00:36:34.360 --> 00:36:35.260
 That's kind of what we do,

00:36:35.340 --> 00:36:36.240
 When we assume that,

00:36:36.460 --> 00:36:37.280
 Just because there are no,

00:36:37.280 --> 00:36:38.559
 Naturalistic explanations,

00:36:38.800 --> 00:36:39.280
 For things,

00:36:39.580 --> 00:36:41.120
 That no real explanations,

00:36:41.300 --> 00:36:42.140
 No such phenomenon,

00:36:42.220 --> 00:36:42.880
 Must exist,

00:36:45.280 --> 00:36:46.180
 C.S. Lewis,

00:36:46.180 --> 00:36:47.080
 Warns us,

00:36:47.140 --> 00:36:47.740
 In his preface,

00:36:47.860 --> 00:36:48.780
 To the screw tape letters,

00:36:48.880 --> 00:36:49.860
 There are two equal,

00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:50.960
 And opposite errors,

00:36:51.039 --> 00:36:51.900
 Into which our race,

00:36:51.980 --> 00:36:53.240
 Can fall about the devils,

00:36:53.519 --> 00:36:54.680
 One is to disbelieve,

00:36:54.740 --> 00:36:55.360
 In their existence,

00:36:55.539 --> 00:36:56.460
 The other is to believe,

00:36:56.559 --> 00:36:57.160
 And to feel,

00:36:57.500 --> 00:36:58.180
 An excessive,

00:36:58.179 --> 00:37:00.919
 An unhealthy interest in them,

00:37:01.539 --> 00:37:02.159
 The eight of souls,

00:37:02.279 --> 00:37:03.039
 Are equally pleased,

00:37:03.079 --> 00:37:03.799
 By both errors,

00:37:03.940 --> 00:37:05.079
 And hail a materialist,

00:37:05.139 --> 00:37:05.699
 Or a magician,

00:37:05.879 --> 00:37:07.179
 With the same delight,

00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:09.960
 Demonic power,

00:37:10.179 --> 00:37:11.419
 May be less apparent here,

00:37:11.500 --> 00:37:12.559
 But it's as real,

00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:13.879
 In the atheistic west,

00:37:13.960 --> 00:37:15.480
 As it is in the animistic east,

00:37:16.139 --> 00:37:17.559
 A materialistic dismissal,

00:37:18.339 --> 00:37:18.779
 Of the demonic,

00:37:18.919 --> 00:37:20.079
 Is not a sign of maturity,

00:37:20.579 --> 00:37:21.219
 And nor is,

00:37:21.299 --> 00:37:22.879
 A superstitious fascination,

00:37:23.059 --> 00:37:23.579
 With the demonic,

00:37:23.839 --> 00:37:25.279
 A sign of spiritual maturity,

00:37:25.639 --> 00:37:27.059
 Because whether we know it,

00:37:27.099 --> 00:37:27.619
 Or not,

00:37:27.619 --> 00:37:28.880
 All of humanity,

00:37:29.019 --> 00:37:29.559
 Ephesians 2,

00:37:29.639 --> 00:37:30.400
 Tells us,

00:37:30.619 --> 00:37:31.559
 That all of humanity,

00:37:31.659 --> 00:37:32.599
 Apart from Christ,

00:37:32.659 --> 00:37:33.779
 Are under the authority,

00:37:34.039 --> 00:37:35.219
 In living under the prince,

00:37:35.400 --> 00:37:36.579
 Of the power of the air,

00:37:36.679 --> 00:37:37.659
 As reference to the devil,

00:37:38.239 --> 00:37:40.259
 The devil is real,

00:37:40.519 --> 00:37:41.799
 And demons are real,

00:37:42.199 --> 00:37:43.219
 And we will see more,

00:37:43.299 --> 00:37:44.000
 And more of,

00:37:44.179 --> 00:37:45.480
 Their manifestations,

00:37:45.719 --> 00:37:46.420
 In our society,

00:37:46.519 --> 00:37:46.819
 As well,

00:37:46.900 --> 00:37:47.599
 As we become,

00:37:47.659 --> 00:37:49.059
 Increasingly pluralistic,

00:37:49.440 --> 00:37:50.000
 And people,

00:37:50.659 --> 00:37:52.019
 Experiment more and more,

00:37:52.079 --> 00:37:53.039
 With false religions,

00:37:53.219 --> 00:37:53.920
 And the occult,

00:37:53.920 --> 00:37:56.820
 Even among,

00:37:56.820 --> 00:37:58.440
 Our church members,

00:37:58.740 --> 00:37:59.599
 We have people,

00:37:59.760 --> 00:38:01.260
 Who have personally experienced,

00:38:02.260 --> 00:38:03.099
 Demonic oppression,

00:38:03.800 --> 00:38:03.920
 And,

00:38:04.039 --> 00:38:04.940
 And we have people,

00:38:05.039 --> 00:38:05.860
 Who have witnessed,

00:38:06.119 --> 00:38:06.659
 Themselves,

00:38:06.780 --> 00:38:07.400
 Exorcisms,

00:38:07.860 --> 00:38:08.480
 In fact,

00:38:08.619 --> 00:38:09.300
 Surveys among,

00:38:09.400 --> 00:38:10.119
 Christian missionaries,

00:38:10.200 --> 00:38:10.920
 Serving in areas,

00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:11.900
 Where there's not,

00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:13.139
 A big gospel presence,

00:38:13.659 --> 00:38:14.119
 Still,

00:38:14.320 --> 00:38:15.280
 Reveal that,

00:38:15.380 --> 00:38:16.480
 One of the primary ways,

00:38:16.519 --> 00:38:16.960
 In which people,

00:38:17.039 --> 00:38:17.700
 Come to believe,

00:38:17.760 --> 00:38:18.700
 In the word of Christ,

00:38:18.800 --> 00:38:19.320
 Is through,

00:38:19.320 --> 00:38:21.080
 This kind of powerful encounter,

00:38:21.260 --> 00:38:22.539
 When demons are exercised,

00:38:23.019 --> 00:38:23.980
 So if you,

00:38:24.019 --> 00:38:24.920
 If you are a believer,

00:38:25.080 --> 00:38:25.900
 This passage teaches,

00:38:26.019 --> 00:38:27.360
 That you should never fear,

00:38:28.160 --> 00:38:29.980
 Because the point of this example,

00:38:29.980 --> 00:38:31.600
 Is not the power of demons,

00:38:31.840 --> 00:38:33.660
 But it's the power of Christ,

00:38:34.220 --> 00:38:35.440
 Because with a word,

00:38:35.680 --> 00:38:36.700
 Christ rebukes,

00:38:36.980 --> 00:38:37.940
 And silences,

00:38:38.300 --> 00:38:39.480
 And expels the demon,

00:38:40.480 --> 00:38:41.340
 And as Christians,

00:38:41.340 --> 00:38:42.240
 Who have been united,

00:38:42.240 --> 00:38:43.600
 With Christ by faith,

00:38:43.880 --> 00:38:44.500
 As Christians,

00:38:44.500 --> 00:38:45.340
 Who have been possessed,

00:38:45.340 --> 00:38:46.500
 By the Holy Spirit,

00:38:47.100 --> 00:38:48.680
 We have the same authority,

00:38:48.679 --> 00:38:49.779
 That Jesus here,

00:38:49.879 --> 00:38:50.460
 Wields,

00:38:50.619 --> 00:38:51.779
 Against the forces of evil,

00:38:52.339 --> 00:38:54.259
 You can,

00:38:54.379 --> 00:38:55.039
 Rebuke,

00:38:55.419 --> 00:38:56.239
 Evil spirits,

00:38:56.619 --> 00:38:57.399
 And you can,

00:38:57.579 --> 00:38:58.239
 Silence them,

00:38:58.299 --> 00:38:59.139
 And cast them out,

00:38:59.259 --> 00:39:00.299
 With the word of Christ,

00:39:01.179 --> 00:39:04.779
 This is a liberating message,

00:39:04.879 --> 00:39:05.500
 For those who live,

00:39:05.539 --> 00:39:06.639
 Under demonic oppression,

00:39:07.279 --> 00:39:08.199
 If you visit,

00:39:08.279 --> 00:39:08.839
 A lot of the,

00:39:09.219 --> 00:39:10.079
 Animistic countries,

00:39:10.219 --> 00:39:11.059
 Where the gospel of Jesus,

00:39:11.139 --> 00:39:12.079
 Is not widely known,

00:39:12.359 --> 00:39:13.399
 The vast majority,

00:39:13.399 --> 00:39:14.099
 Of the people,

00:39:14.239 --> 00:39:15.039
 In those countries,

00:39:15.319 --> 00:39:16.699
 Live in fear,

00:39:17.359 --> 00:39:18.659
 In every store,

00:39:18.679 --> 00:39:19.699
 You go to,

00:39:19.839 --> 00:39:20.099
 Every,

00:39:20.500 --> 00:39:21.679
 Nearly every house,

00:39:22.399 --> 00:39:23.139
 There's an altar,

00:39:23.279 --> 00:39:24.000
 To a spirit,

00:39:24.159 --> 00:39:25.299
 Or an idol of some kind,

00:39:25.460 --> 00:39:26.359
 Because people believe,

00:39:26.460 --> 00:39:27.059
 That they must,

00:39:27.119 --> 00:39:28.079
 Appease them,

00:39:28.719 --> 00:39:29.639
 These false gods,

00:39:29.739 --> 00:39:30.079
 And demons,

00:39:30.199 --> 00:39:30.899
 In order to,

00:39:31.460 --> 00:39:32.139
 Get blessing,

00:39:32.419 --> 00:39:33.339
 Or find success,

00:39:33.559 --> 00:39:35.559
 Many people,

00:39:35.659 --> 00:39:36.699
 Are extremely devoted,

00:39:36.779 --> 00:39:37.599
 To these false gods,

00:39:37.679 --> 00:39:38.019
 Because,

00:39:38.319 --> 00:39:39.359
 Not because they want,

00:39:39.359 --> 00:39:40.019
 To serve them,

00:39:40.099 --> 00:39:41.599
 Not because they love them,

00:39:41.599 --> 00:39:43.039
 But because they fear,

00:39:43.139 --> 00:39:43.899
 The consequence,

00:39:44.179 --> 00:39:45.339
 Of missing a visit,

00:39:46.139 --> 00:39:48.539
 Missing a prayer,

00:39:48.679 --> 00:39:50.879
 Missing a sacrifice,

00:39:51.279 --> 00:39:54.980
 And even in atheistic cultures,

00:39:55.419 --> 00:39:56.019
 Like ours,

00:39:56.199 --> 00:39:56.919
 Secular cultures,

00:39:57.079 --> 00:39:58.960
 That disbelief spirits,

00:39:59.259 --> 00:40:00.279
 The devil and his demons,

00:40:00.480 --> 00:40:02.059
 Stretch out their tyrannical rule,

00:40:02.579 --> 00:40:03.699
 Leading people into sin,

00:40:03.739 --> 00:40:04.379
 And idolatry,

00:40:04.380 --> 00:40:06.400
 But Christ,

00:40:06.660 --> 00:40:07.360
 The king,

00:40:07.780 --> 00:40:08.940
 Has come,

00:40:09.140 --> 00:40:10.460
 To establish his kingdom,

00:40:10.840 --> 00:40:11.680
 That's the good news,

00:40:11.720 --> 00:40:12.300
 Of this passage,

00:40:12.539 --> 00:40:14.220
 And if you come under his rule,

00:40:14.480 --> 00:40:16.180
 You are no longer subject,

00:40:16.340 --> 00:40:17.160
 To the powers,

00:40:17.240 --> 00:40:18.200
 Of these evil spirits,

00:40:18.579 --> 00:40:19.400
 Because Christians,

00:40:19.539 --> 00:40:21.140
 Are under a new regime,

00:40:21.320 --> 00:40:22.619
 We have a new government,

00:40:22.940 --> 00:40:24.240
 We have a new king,

00:40:24.240 --> 00:40:25.160
 And this king,

00:40:25.300 --> 00:40:26.220
 Is full of grace,

00:40:26.360 --> 00:40:26.880
 And truth,

00:40:26.980 --> 00:40:28.160
 That's the good news,

00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:29.340
 That's proclaimed here,

00:40:29.420 --> 00:40:30.619
 And this king reigns,

00:40:30.680 --> 00:40:31.360
 With justice,

00:40:31.480 --> 00:40:32.119
 And righteousness,

00:40:32.119 --> 00:40:34.440
 And we love to serve him,

00:40:34.599 --> 00:40:35.460
 And worship him,

00:40:35.819 --> 00:40:36.679
 That's the good news,

00:40:36.759 --> 00:40:37.500
 That we get to share,

00:40:37.960 --> 00:40:39.000
 With the people around us,

00:40:39.559 --> 00:40:41.460
 Not only does Jesus,

00:40:41.559 --> 00:40:42.440
 Have authority over demons,

00:40:42.579 --> 00:40:43.500
 He also has authority,

00:40:43.500 --> 00:40:44.259
 Over diseases,

00:40:44.719 --> 00:40:45.940
 Verses 38 to 40,

00:40:46.039 --> 00:40:47.239
 Tell us afterward,

00:40:47.500 --> 00:40:48.059
 Read with me,

00:40:49.539 --> 00:40:50.500
 Jesus arose,

00:40:50.719 --> 00:40:51.679
 And left the synagogue,

00:40:51.900 --> 00:40:53.239
 And entered Simon's house,

00:40:53.339 --> 00:40:54.119
 The Simon Peter,

00:40:54.699 --> 00:40:55.940
 Now Simon's mother-in-law,

00:40:56.059 --> 00:40:57.359
 Was ill with a high fever,

00:40:57.480 --> 00:40:58.359
 And they appealed to him,

00:40:58.400 --> 00:40:59.039
 On our behalf,

00:40:59.359 --> 00:41:00.319
 And he stood over her,

00:41:00.400 --> 00:41:01.500
 And rebuked the fever,

00:41:01.500 --> 00:41:02.800
 And it left her,

00:41:03.179 --> 00:41:04.400
 And immediately she rose,

00:41:04.519 --> 00:41:05.800
 And began to serve them,

00:41:06.059 --> 00:41:07.460
 Now when the sun was setting,

00:41:07.559 --> 00:41:08.500
 All those who had,

00:41:08.940 --> 00:41:10.000
 Any who were sick,

00:41:10.119 --> 00:41:10.820
 With various diseases,

00:41:10.920 --> 00:41:11.679
 Brought them to him,

00:41:11.739 --> 00:41:12.800
 And he laid his hands,

00:41:12.820 --> 00:41:13.639
 On every one of them,

00:41:13.659 --> 00:41:14.300
 And healed them,

00:41:15.260 --> 00:41:17.780
 This is before the discovery,

00:41:17.780 --> 00:41:18.639
 Of antibiotics,

00:41:19.260 --> 00:41:20.280
 So a high fever,

00:41:20.400 --> 00:41:21.420
 Which could indicate,

00:41:21.539 --> 00:41:22.840
 An infection of some kind,

00:41:23.300 --> 00:41:25.000
 Would have often been fatal,

00:41:26.380 --> 00:41:27.539
 And the people,

00:41:27.780 --> 00:41:29.300
 Appealed to Jesus for help,

00:41:29.300 --> 00:41:30.720
 And Jesus interestingly,

00:41:31.200 --> 00:41:32.220
 Rebukes the fever,

00:41:32.920 --> 00:41:34.500
 It could suggest,

00:41:34.580 --> 00:41:35.640
 Some kind of demonic origin,

00:41:35.640 --> 00:41:36.120
 For this,

00:41:36.240 --> 00:41:37.960
 And an attempt,

00:41:38.160 --> 00:41:39.580
 To disrupt Jesus' ministry,

00:41:40.100 --> 00:41:41.320
 But I think here,

00:41:41.420 --> 00:41:42.300
 At the very least,

00:41:42.360 --> 00:41:43.240
 It's a personification,

00:41:43.240 --> 00:41:44.120
 Of the fever,

00:41:44.240 --> 00:41:45.860
 To showcase Jesus' power,

00:41:45.940 --> 00:41:47.039
 The extent of his power,

00:41:47.760 --> 00:41:48.420
 Because,

00:41:48.580 --> 00:41:50.940
 It's kind of like,

00:41:51.039 --> 00:41:51.780
 It's a disease,

00:41:51.900 --> 00:41:52.060
 Right?

00:41:52.120 --> 00:41:53.280
 It's an inanimate thing,

00:41:53.400 --> 00:41:54.019
 But it doesn't have,

00:41:54.100 --> 00:41:54.800
 It can't listen to you,

00:41:54.860 --> 00:41:55.400
 It can't hear you,

00:41:55.420 --> 00:41:56.080
 It doesn't respond,

00:41:56.160 --> 00:41:56.720
 To your calls,

00:41:56.719 --> 00:41:58.419
 But Jesus commands,

00:41:58.519 --> 00:41:59.719
 He rebukes the disease,

00:42:00.000 --> 00:42:00.259
 Like,

00:42:00.500 --> 00:42:01.480
 Like a well-trained,

00:42:01.519 --> 00:42:02.279
 Police dog,

00:42:02.339 --> 00:42:02.480
 Right?

00:42:02.539 --> 00:42:02.879
 That says,

00:42:03.179 --> 00:42:03.839
 You sit,

00:42:03.939 --> 00:42:04.439
 It sits,

00:42:04.519 --> 00:42:05.519
 And it goes,

00:42:05.659 --> 00:42:06.099
 Roll around,

00:42:06.179 --> 00:42:06.739
 It rolls around,

00:42:06.959 --> 00:42:07.239
 Bark,

00:42:07.319 --> 00:42:07.759
 It barks,

00:42:07.859 --> 00:42:09.299
 He commands diseases,

00:42:09.439 --> 00:42:10.419
 That's the extent,

00:42:10.619 --> 00:42:11.500
 Of his power,

00:42:12.939 --> 00:42:13.899
 Whatever disease,

00:42:14.000 --> 00:42:14.759
 You can think of,

00:42:14.839 --> 00:42:15.179
 The most,

00:42:15.279 --> 00:42:16.500
 The incurable diseases,

00:42:16.659 --> 00:42:17.819
 The terminal diseases,

00:42:18.179 --> 00:42:19.859
 Before the Lord of creation,

00:42:20.079 --> 00:42:21.279
 Before Christ,

00:42:21.359 --> 00:42:21.739
 The King,

00:42:21.799 --> 00:42:22.259
 Messiah,

00:42:23.779 --> 00:42:24.000
 He,

00:42:24.119 --> 00:42:24.919
 All he needs to do,

00:42:24.980 --> 00:42:25.439
 Speak,

00:42:25.440 --> 00:42:27.159
 And he will heal,

00:42:27.840 --> 00:42:33.240
 And be sure to notice,

00:42:33.440 --> 00:42:35.119
 The graciousness of our King,

00:42:35.519 --> 00:42:36.559
 How tenderly,

00:42:36.619 --> 00:42:37.639
 He ministers to,

00:42:38.159 --> 00:42:38.679
 The people,

00:42:39.139 --> 00:42:40.119
 Look at verse 40,

00:42:40.159 --> 00:42:40.880
 One more time with me,

00:42:40.940 --> 00:42:42.519
 Now when the sun was setting,

00:42:43.380 --> 00:42:44.679
 All those who had any,

00:42:44.740 --> 00:42:45.240
 Who were sick,

00:42:45.300 --> 00:42:45.960
 With various diseases,

00:42:46.059 --> 00:42:46.940
 Brought them to him,

00:42:47.079 --> 00:42:48.840
 And he laid his hands,

00:42:48.900 --> 00:42:50.519
 On every one of them,

00:42:50.519 --> 00:42:51.840
 And healed them,

00:42:52.280 --> 00:42:53.519
 A lot has happened already,

00:42:53.740 --> 00:42:54.400
 In one day,

00:42:54.400 --> 00:42:55.139
 In Capernaum,

00:42:55.420 --> 00:42:55.619
 Right?

00:42:55.720 --> 00:42:56.460
 The exorcism,

00:42:56.579 --> 00:42:57.760
 The healing of the mother-in-law,

00:42:57.880 --> 00:42:58.619
 Peter's mother-in-law,

00:42:58.760 --> 00:43:00.559
 And now the sun was setting,

00:43:00.900 --> 00:43:02.019
 It's the end of the day,

00:43:02.139 --> 00:43:03.039
 Everybody's tired,

00:43:03.320 --> 00:43:04.360
 Yet Jesus continues,

00:43:04.360 --> 00:43:05.680
 His ministry into the night,

00:43:06.039 --> 00:43:07.460
 Healing every one,

00:43:07.800 --> 00:43:08.920
 Of the sick people,

00:43:09.039 --> 00:43:10.000
 That were brought to him,

00:43:10.980 --> 00:43:11.700
 Every one,

00:43:12.940 --> 00:43:13.960
 And Jesus,

00:43:14.220 --> 00:43:15.579
 Attends individually,

00:43:16.079 --> 00:43:17.260
 To each person,

00:43:17.579 --> 00:43:18.900
 And lays his hands,

00:43:19.019 --> 00:43:19.800
 On them,

00:43:20.119 --> 00:43:21.220
 Jesus didn't need to do that,

00:43:21.219 --> 00:43:22.679
 We know from Luke chapter 7,

00:43:22.759 --> 00:43:23.339
 That he can heal,

00:43:23.439 --> 00:43:24.739
 Simply by saying a word,

00:43:25.539 --> 00:43:26.419
 But instead,

00:43:26.559 --> 00:43:27.279
 Intentionally,

00:43:27.339 --> 00:43:28.779
 He takes every single one,

00:43:28.839 --> 00:43:29.879
 That comes through those doors,

00:43:30.079 --> 00:43:31.159
 And lays his hands,

00:43:31.199 --> 00:43:31.939
 On them personally,

00:43:32.239 --> 00:43:33.259
 And heals them,

00:43:33.379 --> 00:43:33.719
 Why?

00:43:35.179 --> 00:43:36.079
 Because that's his way,

00:43:36.079 --> 00:43:36.899
 Of caring for them,

00:43:36.899 --> 00:43:42.500
 Isaiah 43,

00:43:42.500 --> 00:43:58.039
 This applies to all of God's people,

00:43:58.039 --> 00:44:02.039
 If you belong to Jesus Christ,

00:44:02.179 --> 00:44:03.519
 You have been chosen,

00:44:03.519 --> 00:44:05.539
 From before the foundation of the world,

00:44:05.539 --> 00:44:07.519
 And you are not,

00:44:07.519 --> 00:44:09.099
 An anonymous blob,

00:44:09.099 --> 00:44:10.360
 Among the masses,

00:44:10.360 --> 00:44:13.039
 Jesus knows you,

00:44:14.039 --> 00:44:15.900
 Christ,

00:44:16.099 --> 00:44:16.440
 Our king,

00:44:16.519 --> 00:44:17.720
 Knows you personally,

00:44:18.120 --> 00:44:19.539
 He knows your ins and outs,

00:44:19.880 --> 00:44:20.860
 It says in Luke 12,

00:44:20.980 --> 00:44:21.240
 7,

00:44:21.340 --> 00:44:23.160
 That even the hairs of your head,

00:44:23.340 --> 00:44:24.260
 Are numbered,

00:44:24.880 --> 00:44:26.400
 God cares for you,

00:44:26.640 --> 00:44:27.559
 And in your weakness,

00:44:27.820 --> 00:44:28.760
 In your sufferings,

00:44:28.800 --> 00:44:29.539
 In your failures,

00:44:29.720 --> 00:44:30.620
 He is with you,

00:44:30.740 --> 00:44:32.120
 To lay his hands on you,

00:44:32.260 --> 00:44:33.240
 To comfort you,

00:44:33.380 --> 00:44:34.240
 And guide you,

00:44:34.320 --> 00:44:35.960
 And that's the kind of king,

00:44:35.960 --> 00:44:36.780
 We serve,

00:44:38.800 --> 00:44:40.120
 Not at aloof,

00:44:40.360 --> 00:44:41.620
 High handed king,

00:44:42.000 --> 00:44:42.980
 But a gracious,

00:44:43.740 --> 00:44:44.700
 Compassionate king,

00:44:45.660 --> 00:44:46.820
 A king,

00:44:47.019 --> 00:44:48.640
 Who has all authority,

00:44:48.980 --> 00:44:49.700
 And power,

00:44:50.079 --> 00:44:51.599
 So you never need to fear,

00:44:51.700 --> 00:44:52.380
 Coming under,

00:44:52.840 --> 00:44:54.320
 The dominion of anyone else,

00:44:55.820 --> 00:44:56.579
 That's,

00:44:57.340 --> 00:44:58.240
 The king,

00:44:58.760 --> 00:45:00.160
 That's the king's ministry,

00:45:00.940 --> 00:45:03.559
 And finally,

00:45:03.880 --> 00:45:04.380
 And briefly,

00:45:04.640 --> 00:45:06.039
 Verse 42 to 44,

00:45:06.200 --> 00:45:07.420
 To see the king's mission,

00:45:07.420 --> 00:45:09.980
 It says,

00:45:10.519 --> 00:45:12.019
 And when it was day,

00:45:12.159 --> 00:45:12.800
 He departed,

00:45:12.940 --> 00:45:14.460
 And went into a desolate place,

00:45:14.800 --> 00:45:16.039
 And the people sought him,

00:45:16.079 --> 00:45:16.820
 And came to him,

00:45:17.000 --> 00:45:18.079
 And would have kept him,

00:45:18.079 --> 00:45:18.920
 From leaving them,

00:45:19.139 --> 00:45:20.159
 But he said to them,

00:45:20.539 --> 00:45:22.000
 I must preach the good news,

00:45:22.059 --> 00:45:22.880
 Of the kingdom of God,

00:45:22.920 --> 00:45:24.039
 To the other towns as well,

00:45:24.800 --> 00:45:25.920
 For I was sent,

00:45:26.119 --> 00:45:27.260
 For this purpose,

00:45:27.960 --> 00:45:28.579
 And he was preaching,

00:45:28.720 --> 00:45:29.920
 In the synagogues of Judea,

00:45:29.920 --> 00:45:32.659
 In the next chapter,

00:45:32.820 --> 00:45:33.220
 In Luke 5,

00:45:33.260 --> 00:45:33.619
 16,

00:45:33.740 --> 00:45:34.579
 We're told that it was,

00:45:34.700 --> 00:45:35.920
 Jesus' habit to withdraw,

00:45:36.039 --> 00:45:36.740
 To desolate places,

00:45:36.740 --> 00:45:37.280
 To pray,

00:45:37.960 --> 00:45:38.960
 So it's,

00:45:39.039 --> 00:45:39.440
 I don't think,

00:45:39.460 --> 00:45:40.780
 A stretch to assume,

00:45:40.880 --> 00:45:41.940
 That here he withdraws,

00:45:41.980 --> 00:45:42.659
 To a desolate place,

00:45:42.740 --> 00:45:43.200
 To pray,

00:45:44.460 --> 00:45:45.700
 The kind of,

00:45:45.780 --> 00:45:47.780
 This kind of regular withdrawal,

00:45:48.300 --> 00:45:49.380
 And alignment,

00:45:49.539 --> 00:45:50.400
 With God the father,

00:45:50.659 --> 00:45:51.960
 Is what helps Jesus,

00:45:52.079 --> 00:45:52.900
 To stay focused,

00:45:53.119 --> 00:45:54.380
 On his mission,

00:45:54.780 --> 00:45:55.960
 And Jesus recognizes,

00:45:55.960 --> 00:45:56.760
 That he's not,

00:45:56.880 --> 00:45:58.039
 A king of Galilee,

00:45:58.039 --> 00:45:59.679
 He is the king,

00:45:59.679 --> 00:46:01.000
 Of the cosmos,

00:46:01.820 --> 00:46:03.179
 The king of all nations,

00:46:03.619 --> 00:46:04.659
 And so he must not,

00:46:04.759 --> 00:46:05.960
 Be detained in Capernaum,

00:46:06.119 --> 00:46:07.380
 He must go to other towns,

00:46:07.440 --> 00:46:08.960
 To preach the gospel as well,

00:46:09.019 --> 00:46:09.460
 The good news,

00:46:09.500 --> 00:46:10.239
 That's his purpose,

00:46:10.820 --> 00:46:11.860
 So we've come back,

00:46:11.940 --> 00:46:12.960
 Full circle from the way,

00:46:13.039 --> 00:46:13.900
 This passage began,

00:46:14.239 --> 00:46:14.980
 Because it began,

00:46:15.079 --> 00:46:15.619
 With the preaching,

00:46:15.739 --> 00:46:16.320
 Of the good news,

00:46:16.420 --> 00:46:18.059
 The proclaiming of the good news,

00:46:18.239 --> 00:46:18.940
 Of forgiveness,

00:46:19.159 --> 00:46:19.800
 And redemption,

00:46:20.000 --> 00:46:21.239
 That Jesus is all about,

00:46:22.199 --> 00:46:22.880
 But there's something,

00:46:23.000 --> 00:46:23.960
 Important that had been,

00:46:23.960 --> 00:46:25.139
 Left out in the earlier,

00:46:25.320 --> 00:46:26.440
 Quotation from Isaiah,

00:46:26.719 --> 00:46:27.440
 61,

00:46:27.440 --> 00:46:28.320
 1 to 2,

00:46:28.980 --> 00:46:30.240
 Jesus concluded,

00:46:30.360 --> 00:46:31.800
 His citation with the clause,

00:46:32.159 --> 00:46:33.360
 To proclaim the ear,

00:46:33.460 --> 00:46:34.559
 Of the Lord's favor,

00:46:35.000 --> 00:46:36.760
 But in the original text,

00:46:36.840 --> 00:46:37.119
 In Isaiah,

00:46:37.240 --> 00:46:38.099
 The rest of the verse,

00:46:38.179 --> 00:46:39.320
 Continues like this,

00:46:39.760 --> 00:46:40.559
 And the day,

00:46:40.700 --> 00:46:41.460
 Of vengeance,

00:46:41.820 --> 00:46:42.860
 Of our God,

00:46:43.700 --> 00:46:44.920
 The Messiah,

00:46:45.139 --> 00:46:45.940
 Is not only supposed,

00:46:46.079 --> 00:46:46.820
 To proclaim the ear,

00:46:46.840 --> 00:46:47.760
 Of the Lord's favor,

00:46:48.460 --> 00:46:49.340
 He's also supposed,

00:46:49.440 --> 00:46:50.460
 To bring the day,

00:46:50.460 --> 00:46:51.159
 Of vengeance,

00:46:51.780 --> 00:46:52.740
 Judgment for the wicked,

00:46:54.099 --> 00:46:55.360
 But Luke,

00:46:55.500 --> 00:46:56.300
 Intentionally,

00:46:56.300 --> 00:46:57.019
 I think,

00:46:57.640 --> 00:46:58.800
 Leaves that out,

00:46:59.519 --> 00:47:01.280
 To serve a theological purpose,

00:47:01.280 --> 00:47:02.140
 Because we see,

00:47:02.320 --> 00:47:03.620
 Throughout the gospel of Luke,

00:47:04.120 --> 00:47:05.660
 That the judgment,

00:47:05.860 --> 00:47:07.400
 That God brings,

00:47:07.840 --> 00:47:09.220
 Is not yet,

00:47:09.220 --> 00:47:10.000
 Fulfilled,

00:47:10.000 --> 00:47:15.380
 The time,

00:47:15.380 --> 00:47:15.860
 The time of judgment,

00:47:15.980 --> 00:47:16.820
 And the vengeance of God,

00:47:16.900 --> 00:47:17.880
 In the first coming,

00:47:17.940 --> 00:47:18.579
 Of Jesus,

00:47:19.400 --> 00:47:20.280
 Jesus proclaimed,

00:47:20.440 --> 00:47:21.340
 The year of jubilee,

00:47:21.920 --> 00:47:23.039
 But the day of vengeance,

00:47:23.039 --> 00:47:23.840
 Will be fulfilled,

00:47:24.019 --> 00:47:25.460
 In Jesus' second coming,

00:47:26.719 --> 00:47:27.340
 Today,

00:47:28.219 --> 00:47:28.860
 The good news,

00:47:28.920 --> 00:47:29.559
 Of liberation,

00:47:29.780 --> 00:47:30.400
 Is fulfilled,

00:47:30.559 --> 00:47:31.300
 But the good news,

00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:32.400
 Of divine vengeance,

00:47:32.400 --> 00:47:33.239
 On the wicked,

00:47:33.780 --> 00:47:34.780
 Is not yet,

00:47:34.780 --> 00:47:35.599
 Consummated,

00:47:35.599 --> 00:47:37.139
 It's begun,

00:47:37.339 --> 00:47:38.460
 It has not been fulfilled,

00:47:39.079 --> 00:47:40.360
 Romans 5,

00:47:40.440 --> 00:47:40.659
 10,

00:47:40.759 --> 00:47:41.619
 Says that we were all,

00:47:41.880 --> 00:47:42.779
 Once enemies of God,

00:47:42.839 --> 00:47:44.299
 And by sinning against Him,

00:47:44.380 --> 00:47:45.299
 We have committed,

00:47:45.759 --> 00:47:46.960
 Acts of treason,

00:47:47.519 --> 00:47:48.579
 And this king,

00:47:48.779 --> 00:47:49.059
 Jesus,

00:47:49.199 --> 00:47:50.299
 Has come to establish,

00:47:50.400 --> 00:47:50.819
 His kingdom,

00:47:51.059 --> 00:47:52.139
 And bring the rebels,

00:47:52.219 --> 00:47:53.299
 Into subjection,

00:47:53.659 --> 00:47:54.500
 And to use it,

00:47:54.579 --> 00:47:55.420
 An analogy,

00:47:55.880 --> 00:47:57.239
 In his first coming,

00:47:57.539 --> 00:47:58.460
 This king comes,

00:47:58.460 --> 00:47:59.920
 With the terms of surrender,

00:47:59.920 --> 00:48:03.280
 This is a costly offer,

00:48:03.280 --> 00:48:03.780
 Of surrender,

00:48:03.900 --> 00:48:05.539
 Because in order to reconcile,

00:48:05.539 --> 00:48:06.619
 The enemies of God,

00:48:06.720 --> 00:48:07.180
 To him,

00:48:07.599 --> 00:48:08.920
 So Jesus must pay,

00:48:08.980 --> 00:48:10.519
 The penalty for their treason,

00:48:10.639 --> 00:48:11.159
 Himself,

00:48:11.360 --> 00:48:12.360
 And that's exactly,

00:48:12.360 --> 00:48:13.980
 What Jesus does,

00:48:14.639 --> 00:48:17.039
 We're treacherous people,

00:48:17.280 --> 00:48:18.300
 Who have no business,

00:48:18.380 --> 00:48:19.740
 Even approaching the gates,

00:48:19.900 --> 00:48:21.019
 Of the kingdom of God,

00:48:21.119 --> 00:48:22.280
 Lest we be killed,

00:48:22.840 --> 00:48:23.700
 On sight,

00:48:24.760 --> 00:48:25.740
 That's who we are,

00:48:26.800 --> 00:48:27.840
 And yet the king comes,

00:48:27.940 --> 00:48:28.559
 And offers,

00:48:29.000 --> 00:48:29.420
 Terms of,

00:48:29.420 --> 00:48:30.840
 Terms of surrender,

00:48:30.920 --> 00:48:32.019
 And he says to us,

00:48:32.500 --> 00:48:33.380
 If you surrender,

00:48:34.599 --> 00:48:35.619
 If you renounce,

00:48:35.740 --> 00:48:37.420
 Your own lordship,

00:48:38.200 --> 00:48:38.940
 If you renounce,

00:48:39.019 --> 00:48:39.639
 If you stop,

00:48:39.720 --> 00:48:40.740
 Living for yourself,

00:48:40.860 --> 00:48:42.039
 And if you pledge allegiance,

00:48:42.220 --> 00:48:43.200
 To me as your king,

00:48:43.960 --> 00:48:45.400
 I will pay the price,

00:48:46.320 --> 00:48:48.720
 I will die,

00:48:51.659 --> 00:48:53.019
 That's what Jesus does,

00:48:53.260 --> 00:48:55.360
 He dies on the cross,

00:48:55.420 --> 00:48:56.500
 For the sins of his people,

00:48:56.860 --> 00:48:58.139
 He's raised from the dead,

00:48:58.220 --> 00:48:58.940
 Victoriously,

00:48:59.420 --> 00:49:00.960
 And he promised,

00:49:01.079 --> 00:49:02.000
 After he ascended to heaven,

00:49:02.119 --> 00:49:03.159
 He will return,

00:49:03.300 --> 00:49:04.139
 A second time,

00:49:04.139 --> 00:49:06.940
 And when he returns,

00:49:07.739 --> 00:49:09.460
 There will be no terms of truth,

00:49:09.599 --> 00:49:10.879
 There is no terms of surrender,

00:49:11.879 --> 00:49:15.099
 In the second time,

00:49:15.179 --> 00:49:16.279
 He will come in vengeance,

00:49:16.960 --> 00:49:19.579
 To bring all,

00:49:20.019 --> 00:49:21.139
 Those who refuse him,

00:49:21.480 --> 00:49:22.359
 Into subjection,

00:49:22.360 --> 00:49:25.099
 And we are a people,

00:49:25.099 --> 00:49:25.180
 And we are a people,

00:49:25.180 --> 00:49:26.880
 Who live between those two times,

00:49:27.440 --> 00:49:28.780
 Between those two worlds,

00:49:28.840 --> 00:49:29.559
 Which is why,

00:49:29.680 --> 00:49:31.480
 There are seemingly contradictions,

00:49:31.640 --> 00:49:32.220
 In our lives,

00:49:32.380 --> 00:49:33.599
 God's kingdom is here,

00:49:33.700 --> 00:49:34.780
 Yet we experience,

00:49:34.900 --> 00:49:35.940
 Illness and sickness,

00:49:36.400 --> 00:49:37.599
 God still heals today,

00:49:38.400 --> 00:49:38.700
 Yet,

00:49:39.240 --> 00:49:40.400
 He doesn't heal everyone,

00:49:40.400 --> 00:49:45.579
 Christ has authority,

00:49:45.720 --> 00:49:46.519
 And we have his authority,

00:49:46.619 --> 00:49:47.220
 In our lives,

00:49:48.360 --> 00:49:49.960
 Yet we still experience,

00:49:50.059 --> 00:49:51.200
 Suffering and persecution,

00:49:51.860 --> 00:49:53.440
 Because we live between,

00:49:53.519 --> 00:49:54.320
 Those two times,

00:49:54.420 --> 00:49:55.420
 And because this world,

00:49:55.500 --> 00:49:56.440
 Is still occupied,

00:49:58.059 --> 00:49:59.139
 And under the influence,

00:50:00.180 --> 00:50:00.700
 Of evil,

00:50:00.699 --> 00:50:03.539
 But our king is coming,

00:50:04.939 --> 00:50:06.239
 And when he comes,

00:50:06.339 --> 00:50:08.119
 Those who have aligned themselves to him,

00:50:08.179 --> 00:50:09.500
 And have pledged their allegiance to him,

00:50:09.759 --> 00:50:11.439
 And have remained faithful to him,

00:50:11.839 --> 00:50:12.500
 Through all,

00:50:13.019 --> 00:50:14.159
 The sufferings of life,

00:50:14.480 --> 00:50:15.319
 Will be vindicated,

00:50:17.259 --> 00:50:19.059
 And they will experience victory,

00:50:20.059 --> 00:50:21.500
 And all those who have refused,

00:50:21.759 --> 00:50:22.359
 To yield,

00:50:22.639 --> 00:50:24.079
 To this gracious king,

00:50:25.039 --> 00:50:25.859
 Will be defeated,

00:50:27.319 --> 00:50:28.099
 Subjected,

00:50:28.099 --> 00:50:31.360
 So that's the choice,

00:50:32.000 --> 00:50:32.500
 Today,

00:50:33.239 --> 00:50:34.679
 We must choose to come,

00:50:34.679 --> 00:50:36.460
 Under the rule of Christ,

00:50:37.059 --> 00:50:37.440
 The king,

00:50:38.400 --> 00:50:38.920
 Please,

00:50:39.119 --> 00:50:39.880
 Close your eyes,