WEBVTT

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 Father, we ask that you would gently pour out the Holy Spirit deep within us,

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 that we might think about Jesus, that we might think about death,

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 that we might think about his death upon the cross and his being buried in the tomb,

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 and that you might bring that home to our hearts.

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 And we ask these things in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 So I spent some time in a grave.

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 Some of you have heard this story before.

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 I've been ordained for three years.

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 I've done lots of funerals here in the city.

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 And then I got sent to look after four little country churches up the valley

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 in places called Eganville, Killaloo.

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 Famous Killaloo Sunrise was invented there.

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 Tremor and Clontarf.

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 And I did a lot of funerals when I was in that church, actually.

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 And I'd only actually been in that little rural church about a week and a half.

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 And I did my first funeral.

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 And then about a week later, I did another funeral.

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 And the second funeral was one of the things they have in small rural places,

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 which they don't have in the city, is they have private graveyards.

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 And I went to this.

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 I did a funeral for this person.

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 And the burial place was going to be in a private family burial plot.

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 And one of the things I liked to do in the city when I could, when I was doing a funeral,

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 was not to be in the funeral director's car.

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 But I often liked to sort of zoom up in my own car so I could be there a little bit in advance.

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 And just later on, I didn't have to wait for the funeral director for me to leave the reception.

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 I could leave when I wanted, either stay longer or earlier or whatever.

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 Anyway, so I zoom up early, quite a bit faster than a funeral procession.

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 I get there.

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 I park.

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 I walk up.

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 And I thought I'd just sort of walk to see where the grave is.

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 And if any of you have been to a grave site in Canada, there's usually artificial grass off on the side.

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 And I'm walking up to the grave.

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 And all of a sudden, before I know it, I fall into the grave.

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 Because the green artificial grass, there are like planks to step on.

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 And if the plank is over here, the green artificial grass went all the way up to here because there was a hole there, which I did not know about.

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 So I slid into a seven or eight foot deep grave.

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 Was I ever embarrassed?

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 I was so terrified that I would have to be, when the family would come, that I would have to be rescued from the grave and then do the funeral.

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 And it was really dusty.

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 So I'm in black, but I'm all covered in dust.

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 And so I'm trying to scramble up the side of the grave.

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 I'm also now, I have this double worry that I'll actually make the hole bigger and the grass won't cover it.

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 Anyway, I eventually am able to scramble up covered in dust.

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 I go off to the side.

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 I do the best job I can to beat the dust off my black.

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 Nobody ever commented on why I was so dusty.

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 And I never made any reference to it that I actually spent some time in the grave.

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 So that's been my one time in the grave.

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 I know that's a very silly introduction to this, which is a very, very serious story.

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 But we're looking today at the death of Jesus and the death of Jesus and ultimately his burial, entombment in a tomb.

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 So it would be a great help to me if you got your Bibles and turned to John chapter 19.

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 And we read here of John's account.

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 There's a movie reviewer that I quite like.

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 I read him almost every week.

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 I won't say what his name is, but there's a movie reviewer that I like quite a bit.

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 And just a couple of days ago, on Friday, he did a movie review of a new movie that's just come out from Hollywood about Mary Magdalene.

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 And at the end of the movie review, he made a couple of – it was such a typical type of comment to be made.

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 He made a comment about how some pope in the 500s made this determination about what Mary Magdalene was.

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 And then he made a comment about how this movie will help to dispel the inaccuracy, you know, the misinformation that comes from religious bureaucrats or something like that.

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 And I thought to myself as I read it, I thought, well, you're a really good movie reviewer, but you know absolutely nothing about how the Bible was put together.

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 Like, your ignorance is unbelievably deep.

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 If you're here this morning, I don't think you ever come to the church.

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 I didn't mean to insult you.

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 So anyway, that's funny.

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 But so the fact of the matter is that there are four, as we all know, ancient biographies of Jesus.

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 And so actually, I mean, I think that particular pope was wrong to say what he said about Mary because it was based on tradition, not on what the Bible actually says.

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 But what we're looking at here is an ancient eyewitness biography of Jesus.

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 And the way that John has told the story, because that's what you tell when you're telling a person's life story, you tell the story.

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 It's a biography.

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 And John has now he's gone through the capture of Jesus, the trial of Jesus, all the shenanigans that went around with this.

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 And as I said, as introducing the reading, the decision is made to crucify Jesus.

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 And now we have the crucifixion of Jesus.

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 It gets right to it.

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 In those days, that's the way they did it.

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 And so it begins like this, chapter 19, verse 16.

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 So they took Jesus, that's the soldiers, and he went out bearing his own cross to the place called the place of a skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.

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 Now, just pause here for a second.

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 This is a silly little thing.

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 Some of you might know, I make some jokes, that if I was ever going to plant a Baptist church, I'd call it 13th Baptist Church.

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 Why?

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 I don't know.

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 I think that's just sort of funny, you know, not First Baptist or anything like that, 13th Baptist Church.

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 But I now have a new name for a Baptist church.

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 It would be called the place of the skull Baptist church.

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 Because actually, there's a place of the skull Baptist church in every city of Ottawa, and maybe in North America.

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 They just don't realize it.

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 Because you see, this is really funny.

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 The place of the skull is the literal translation.

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 And then he says Golgotha.

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 But what happened is when the people who translated the Greek Golgotha into Latin, they used a different word.

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 And then, and for many, many years in the West, that Latin word was what people heard in the church.

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 And then people took the way to pronounce it in English.

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 And the way you pronounce the Latin word in English is Calvary.

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 So those of you who are members of Calvary Fellowship, you were a member of the place of the skull fellowship.

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 Our friends who go to Calvary Baptist, that's the place of the skull Baptist church.

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 I just think they should just be out front and just claim it, you know.

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 Just embrace such an unbelievably non-postmodern name.

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 Actually, it sort of is postmodern to do something like that.

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 But anyway, that's an aside.

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 That's so Calvary is how, that's, it's not mentioned here, but that's where the word Calvary comes from.

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 It comes from Golgotha, and it means in Aramaic, a place of a skull.

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 Verse 18, there they crucified him and with two others, one on either side and Jesus between them.

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 And there they crucified him and with him two others, one on either side and Jesus between them.

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 It's really interesting how the writer here helps us now to remember something which we need to think about a little bit more,

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 and we often don't think about as Christians, is that on one hand, the crucifixion of a Jewish man was nothing special.

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 Like even here when we're hearing about Jesus being crucified, he's one of three people who are being crucified.

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 Because there's so many historical references between the ancient biographies, what we now know of as the Gospels,

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 and Roman and Jewish life, and you can cross-reference these things with what Roman and Jewish historians have said.

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 Depending on how you put things together, we know that Jesus was crucified either in the spring of the year 30 or the spring of the year 33.

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 One of those two years.

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 It depends on how you put some things together.

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 But one of those two years is when Jesus actually died.

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 You can actually go back and you can figure out the actual day because there's so many historical cross-references in the Gospel.

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 And because they're writing history, right?

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 It's an historical biography by eyewitnesses.

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 But in the year 70, so either 40 years after this or 37 years after this, depending on how you put some cross-references together,

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 the Roman armies surround Jerusalem and they put it under a siege.

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 And at the end of the siege, they win the siege.

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 Jerusalem is overrun and the city is destroyed.

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 But here's the thing.

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 Historians say that during that, I think it was a four-month siege.

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 During that four-month siege, as part of the way to terrorize the population within the walls,

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 the Romans crucified 500 Jews a day.

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 500 Jews a day for four months.

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 That's a lot of crucifixions.

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 In fact, the Roman historians say because the Roman practice of crucifixion was that you'd put the person up on the cross to die.

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 And that might take, I mean, they might die.

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 Sometimes people died just by the whipping.

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 But if they, and then some people would die very quickly on the cross.

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 But a young, fit person could maybe go three days or whatever.

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 And the Roman habit was then to leave the body on the grave long enough that some of the decomposition would happen,

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 as well as the animals being able to eat parts of the body.

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 And it was just all part of the way to spread terror, of course, right?

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 And so the Roman historians say that they were crucifying so many Jewish people that they actually started to have problems getting enough wood for the crosses.

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 And I just mention that because whatever we're going to say about Jesus and what's going on here is that the crucifixion of a Jew is nothing special.

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 But there's something particularly of interest about this person.

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 And that's sort of what we need to think about a little bit.

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 Jesus dies by a way that was commonly used to terrorize indigenous people, I guess we would now say, and by their political masters.

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 And Jesus was just one more example of an indigenous person being killed by an imperial power.

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 And even in the story, he's just one of three.

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 He's the guy who happens to be in the center, but he's just one of the three.

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 And the story continues.

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 Pilate also wrote an inscription, which was very common, and put it on the cross.

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 It read, Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews.

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 Many of the Jewish people read this inscription for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city,

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 and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek.

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 In other words, in the local language, Aramaic.

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 In Greek, which was the language, the common language of the empire.

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 And in Latin, which was the imperial language used by their imperial masters.

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 So the chief priest of the Jews said to Pilate, do not write the king of the Jews,

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 but rather this man said, I am the king of the Jews.

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 And Pilate answered, what I have written, I have written.

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 And those of you who have been following the story, there's lots of irony which is going on here.

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 One of the ironies is actually the way that it's written here is that the king of the Jews,

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 and when it says Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews,

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 and then just a few lines later it says the chief priest of the Jews,

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 there's a type of a balance that the language is exactly the same,

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 showing the contrast between Jesus and the religious leaders.

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 And of course, another important part of all of this is that these same spiritual leaders,

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 just an hour or so earlier,

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 had actually publicly acclaimed an act of blasphemy,

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 that Caesar was their king.

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 And so part of the irony of this story is that the religious leaders claim that Caesar is their king,

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 and Caesar claims that Jesus is their king, which is very ironic.

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 And the story continues.

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 Verse 23.

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 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus,

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 they took his garments and divided them into four parts.

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 One for each soldier, also his tunic.

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 But the tunic was seamless,

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 woven in one piece from top to bottom.

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 And just sort of pause here.

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 There's one of the things here which is very interesting,

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 if you think about it for a second.

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 My parents are still alive,

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 so I haven't had to bury them,

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 and I haven't had to clean out their house or anything like that.

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 As many of you know,

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 what often happens is when you reach a certain age,

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 you have to downsize,

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 maybe go into some type of a smaller facility.

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 You have to get rid of a lot of your furniture and possessions.

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 It doesn't happen with everybody.

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 Louise's father died,

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 owning two properties with lots and lots and lots of stuff to get rid of.

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 But often,

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 one of the things you have to,

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 often,

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 I mean,

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 not in every case,

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 in every case,

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 one of the things you have to dispose of is the clothes.

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 And it's just this very,

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 very small little item,

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 and we're going to mention another thing about it in a moment.

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 But if you think about it,

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 the soldiers are so certain of Jesus's death

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 that they dispose of his clothes

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 while he's hanging above them.

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 See,

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 one of the things the story is going to do

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 time and time and time and time and time again

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 is emphasize that Jesus dies.

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 The guarantors of his death are the Roman soldiers.

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 It's not the disciples of Jesus.

00:14:27.580 --> 00:14:27.800
 Okay,

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 he's dead.

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 He's dead.

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 And then he's not really.

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 No,

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 the guarantor of the death of Jesus

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 is,

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 in fact,

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 the Roman soldiers.

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 And the text,

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 time and time again,

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 in small,

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 subtle ways,

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 crucified,

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 his body,

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 the embalming,

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 even this very simple act

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 of disposing of the possessions,

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 something that we usually do.

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 It would be as if

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 I go into the hospital

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 and because I have a bad,

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 a bad,

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 you know,

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 whatever,

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 and then I find out that,

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 you know,

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 in Louise's,

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 I'd say,

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 pre-decease me,

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 which will definitely not happen,

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 but just for the case of this story,

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 she's a vegetarian.

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 I eat meat.

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 She eats way healthier than I.

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 She's going to outlive me by a long time.

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 Anyway,

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 and so,

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 you know,

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 it'd be as if I'm,

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 I'm,

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 I'm,

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 I'm in the hospital

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 and it maybe doesn't look too good for me

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 and I find out my kids have sold the house,

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 my house,

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 and they've sold all my stuff.

00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:21.899
 And in fact,

00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:23.659
 they actually come and come into the closet

00:15:23.659 --> 00:15:25.399
 and take the clothes I have in the closet

00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:25.639
 and say,

00:15:25.700 --> 00:15:26.840
 you're not going to need these clothes

00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:29.220
 because all you have left is the hospital gown

00:15:29.220 --> 00:15:30.240
 and that's all you need,

00:15:30.379 --> 00:15:30.620
 dad.

00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:31.279
 Like,

00:15:31.580 --> 00:15:33.159
 they're so certain of my death

00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:34.600
 and so quick to get rid of it.

00:15:35.259 --> 00:15:35.620
 And,

00:15:35.659 --> 00:15:36.399
 and that's what's happening here.

00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:36.840
 It's a,

00:15:36.840 --> 00:15:37.860
 it's a small thing,

00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.100
 and we read it all the time

00:15:39.100 --> 00:15:40.620
 without realizing the significance of it.

00:15:40.620 --> 00:15:41.940
 The soldiers know he's dead.

00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:43.419
 He's still alive,

00:15:43.559 --> 00:15:44.000
 technically,

00:15:44.139 --> 00:15:44.779
 but he's dead.

00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:46.879
 You get rid of all of his stuff now.

00:15:47.419 --> 00:15:49.019
 And time and time and time and time again

00:15:49.019 --> 00:15:49.519
 in the story,

00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:50.320
 it's going to be emphasized,

00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:51.139
 Jesus died,

00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:51.860
 Jesus died,

00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:52.480
 Jesus died.

00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:53.700
 They do it with different words,

00:15:53.799 --> 00:15:54.480
 crucifixion,

00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:55.259
 body,

00:15:55.659 --> 00:15:55.940
 this,

00:15:56.440 --> 00:15:58.100
 the piercing of the side,

00:15:58.299 --> 00:15:59.519
 the embalming process,

00:15:59.659 --> 00:16:02.220
 all different ways of indicating he dies.

00:16:02.220 --> 00:16:04.860
 But there's something else here,

00:16:04.899 --> 00:16:06.060
 which is also significant,

00:16:06.060 --> 00:16:07.720
 which comes right up in verse 24.

00:16:07.899 --> 00:16:08.899
 So they said to one another,

00:16:08.899 --> 00:16:09.259
 remember,

00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:10.820
 they're dividing up his clothes,

00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:12.899
 and he must have had like five pieces of clothes,

00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:13.420
 and they take,

00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:16.860
 or a big piece that they can sort of separate out the fabric or whatever,

00:16:16.920 --> 00:16:17.860
 but they come to one piece,

00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:19.700
 and they decide it's a bit more precious,

00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:20.019
 and,

00:16:20.100 --> 00:16:21.440
 and there's four guys,

00:16:21.540 --> 00:16:21.840
 and just,

00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:22.620
 anyway,

00:16:22.700 --> 00:16:24.700
 they decide that we'll gamble for the last piece.

00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:26.379
 Verse 24,

00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:27.439
 So they said to one another,

00:16:27.539 --> 00:16:28.519
 let us not tear it,

00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:29.939
 but cast lots,

00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:30.620
 or dice,

00:16:30.899 --> 00:16:33.000
 to see who it shall be.

00:16:33.539 --> 00:16:34.559
 And here's this thing,

00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:35.639
 which is very important.

00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:36.740
 This was to fulfill.

00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:38.980
 The scripture which says,

00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:41.399
 they divided my garments among them,

00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:43.460
 and from my clothing they cast lots.

00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:46.439
 So the soldiers did these things.

00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:52.299
 I was walking with Jason the other day

00:16:52.299 --> 00:16:55.379
 to have a coffee with him on Friday,

00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:57.179
 and I made a joke to him

00:16:57.179 --> 00:16:58.100
 that if you want to have,

00:16:58.159 --> 00:16:59.340
 I hope there's no weatherman here,

00:16:59.720 --> 00:16:59.960
 sorry,

00:17:00.460 --> 00:17:00.779
 I said,

00:17:00.860 --> 00:17:01.639
 if you want to have a job

00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:03.419
 where you can be wrong almost all the time

00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:04.500
 and still have job security,

00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:05.380
 become a weatherman.

00:17:06.140 --> 00:17:07.319
 Because as we were walking,

00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:09.480
 the weatherman got it wrong about the weather.

00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:11.680
 But I've never heard,

00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:12.200
 maybe they do,

00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:13.400
 maybe they fire weathermen

00:17:13.400 --> 00:17:13.920
 because,

00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:14.259
 you know,

00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:15.619
 you said it was not going to rain

00:17:15.619 --> 00:17:16.160
 until the evening,

00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:17.359
 and it rained at three or whatever.

00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:17.700
 I don't know,

00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:18.500
 maybe that happens,

00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:20.279
 but it seems as if you can make predictions

00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:21.299
 in that field,

00:17:21.700 --> 00:17:24.359
 and it doesn't affect your job security.

00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:26.339
 But what we see here

00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:27.419
 is something which is very,

00:17:27.539 --> 00:17:28.119
 very interesting.

00:17:28.379 --> 00:17:28.759
 It's not,

00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:30.579
 prophecy is more than a prediction,

00:17:30.719 --> 00:17:31.679
 although it is a bit of a,

00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:32.479
 like a prediction.

00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:34.179
 But what we're going to see here

00:17:34.179 --> 00:17:35.119
 time and time again,

00:17:35.199 --> 00:17:36.399
 and if you go back and read

00:17:36.399 --> 00:17:37.659
 the other parts of John,

00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:39.099
 beginning at John chapter 18,

00:17:39.099 --> 00:17:40.359
 you'll see this constant refrain,

00:17:41.359 --> 00:17:42.359
 it was fulfilled,

00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:43.419
 it was fulfilled,

00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:44.419
 it was fulfilled.

00:17:45.339 --> 00:17:46.019
 In other words,

00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:47.039
 the Bible is saying

00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:48.299
 that whether,

00:17:48.479 --> 00:17:50.019
 as Daniel introduced Psalm 22,

00:17:50.159 --> 00:17:51.399
 whether it's David writing

00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:52.800
 over a thousand years

00:17:52.800 --> 00:17:54.200
 before the death of Jesus,

00:17:54.860 --> 00:17:56.540
 but writing a psalm

00:17:56.540 --> 00:17:58.320
 which describes the crucifixion.

00:17:58.360 --> 00:17:58.800
 In fact,

00:17:59.180 --> 00:18:01.380
 he describes some of the terms

00:18:01.380 --> 00:18:02.360
 and some of the ways

00:18:02.360 --> 00:18:04.000
 that a crucifixion works.

00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:05.540
 My bones out of joint,

00:18:05.640 --> 00:18:06.180
 my heart,

00:18:06.320 --> 00:18:07.000
 my lips dry,

00:18:07.120 --> 00:18:09.440
 and crucifixion hadn't even been invented.

00:18:10.940 --> 00:18:12.460
 And time and time and time again

00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:13.200
 in the story,

00:18:13.360 --> 00:18:14.019
 they're going to say

00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:15.440
 that Jesus fulfilled this,

00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:16.460
 he fulfilled this.

00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:17.700
 And in some cases,

00:18:17.780 --> 00:18:18.620
 they're even going to say

00:18:18.619 --> 00:18:20.139
 that Jesus not just fulfilled

00:18:20.139 --> 00:18:21.339
 a specific prophecy,

00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.959
 but as we're going to see,

00:18:23.159 --> 00:18:24.559
 you'll see that he fulfilled

00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:26.459
 the general promises

00:18:26.459 --> 00:18:27.759
 and longings

00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:29.539
 and types of the Old Testament.

00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:30.979
 Like one of the things

00:18:30.979 --> 00:18:32.239
 which is happening here

00:18:32.239 --> 00:18:34.359
 is that Jesus is dying

00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:35.359
 at the same time

00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:37.279
 that in another part of the city,

00:18:37.399 --> 00:18:39.239
 they're killing the lambs,

00:18:39.719 --> 00:18:41.359
 the spotless lambs,

00:18:41.619 --> 00:18:44.019
 as part of the Passover celebration.

00:18:44.959 --> 00:18:47.699
 And Passover is the profound act

00:18:47.700 --> 00:18:49.580
 that makes Israel Israel

00:18:49.580 --> 00:18:52.420
 when God delivers the Jewish people

00:18:52.420 --> 00:18:53.960
 out of slavery,

00:18:54.120 --> 00:18:55.580
 of bondage in Egypt.

00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:59.279
 And after Pharaoh refuses

00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:00.740
 and refuses and refuses

00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:03.340
 and refuses to let these slaves go,

00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:06.100
 Moses says God is going to do

00:19:06.100 --> 00:19:07.080
 his final punishment.

00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:08.539
 And if you want to be saved

00:19:08.539 --> 00:19:10.160
 and spared and be delivered,

00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:11.680
 you are to kill a lamb

00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:13.200
 and you are to take

00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:14.360
 the blood of the lamb

00:19:14.360 --> 00:19:15.819
 and you are to use some hyssop

00:19:15.819 --> 00:19:17.259
 and take the blood of the lamb

00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:19.159
 to cover the entranceway

00:19:19.159 --> 00:19:19.859
 of your house.

00:19:19.939 --> 00:19:21.839
 And if you put the blood of the lamb

00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:23.119
 using hyssop

00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:24.619
 on the doorways to the house,

00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:26.339
 then you will be spared

00:19:26.339 --> 00:19:28.019
 God's judgment of death

00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:29.519
 and you will be free

00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:30.339
 and be delivered.

00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:32.279
 And at the same time,

00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:32.879
 we'll even see

00:19:32.879 --> 00:19:34.679
 that using the hyssop branch

00:19:34.679 --> 00:19:35.259
 in a few moments,

00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:36.059
 the same time

00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:36.799
 that these lambs

00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:37.599
 are being slaughtered

00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:38.839
 is when Jesus is dying,

00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:40.399
 that he fulfills

00:19:40.399 --> 00:19:41.939
 not just specific scriptures,

00:19:42.159 --> 00:19:42.939
 but the types.

00:19:42.940 --> 00:19:45.259
 Jesus is introduced by John

00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:46.220
 as the lamb of God

00:19:46.220 --> 00:19:46.920
 who takes away

00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:47.840
 the sin of the world.

00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:48.700
 And here we see

00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:49.580
 the lamb of God

00:19:49.580 --> 00:19:50.480
 who takes away

00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:51.299
 the sin of the world

00:19:51.299 --> 00:19:54.080
 dying at the same time

00:19:54.080 --> 00:19:56.160
 that the lambs are dying.

00:19:59.360 --> 00:20:00.720
 And we're seeing here

00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:01.960
 that the death of Jesus

00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:03.160
 is a fulfillment

00:20:03.160 --> 00:20:04.440
 of the promises

00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:05.980
 and the words of God

00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:06.759
 that have been made

00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:07.759
 over centuries

00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:09.360
 by many, many different writers.

00:20:09.820 --> 00:20:10.539
 And the other thing

00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:11.580
 which is so remarkable

00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:12.240
 about this,

00:20:12.299 --> 00:20:13.159
 and the word fulfilled,

00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:14.859
 you'll see it repeated

00:20:14.859 --> 00:20:16.319
 time and time and time again,

00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:18.339
 is that Jesus

00:20:18.339 --> 00:20:19.279
 and his disciples

00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:21.099
 could not have orchestrated

00:20:21.099 --> 00:20:22.339
 these fulfillments.

00:20:24.619 --> 00:20:25.439
 In fact,

00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:27.079
 the enemies of Jesus

00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:28.699
 unwittingly

00:20:28.699 --> 00:20:31.000
 act to fulfill

00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:31.980
 the prophecies.

00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:33.659
 How on earth

00:20:33.659 --> 00:20:34.460
 could the disciples

00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:35.460
 organize it

00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:36.460
 that they have,

00:20:36.619 --> 00:20:37.220
 Psalm 22

00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:38.119
 would be fulfilled

00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:39.619
 of somebody gambling

00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:40.899
 for Jesus' clothes?

00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:41.800
 It's the soldiers,

00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:42.720
 the pagan soldiers,

00:20:42.840 --> 00:20:43.980
 the enemies of Jesus,

00:20:44.100 --> 00:20:45.060
 the imperial power

00:20:45.060 --> 00:20:45.680
 that does it.

00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:47.519
 And later on,

00:20:47.560 --> 00:20:48.240
 you're going to see

00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:48.940
 in a moment

00:20:48.940 --> 00:20:50.340
 that the reason normally,

00:20:50.420 --> 00:20:50.880
 remember I said

00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:52.880
 the normal Roman practice

00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:53.620
 is that you left

00:20:53.620 --> 00:20:55.300
 the crucified body

00:20:55.300 --> 00:20:59.240
 on the cross

00:20:59.240 --> 00:21:00.360
 and whether he died

00:21:00.360 --> 00:21:01.660
 in a couple of minutes

00:21:01.660 --> 00:21:02.440
 or whether he died

00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:03.060
 in three days

00:21:03.060 --> 00:21:03.800
 or five days

00:21:03.800 --> 00:21:04.240
 or whatever,

00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:05.620
 after he dies,

00:21:05.619 --> 00:21:07.000
 you leave him

00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:08.559
 on the cross

00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:10.379
 until his body,

00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:11.299
 you know,

00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:12.379
 all the decomposition

00:21:12.379 --> 00:21:13.679
 and the putrefaction,

00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:14.239
 the smell,

00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:15.099
 and that all happens

00:21:15.099 --> 00:21:16.179
 and he wouldn't have been buried.

00:21:17.259 --> 00:21:18.439
 And so all of the prophecies

00:21:18.439 --> 00:21:19.299
 of Jesus rising

00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:19.839
 from the grave

00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:20.939
 would not have been fulfilled.

00:21:21.579 --> 00:21:22.819
 The reason that those

00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:23.279
 are fulfilled,

00:21:23.439 --> 00:21:23.739
 of course,

00:21:23.779 --> 00:21:24.819
 is the power of God,

00:21:24.899 --> 00:21:25.979
 but that would not have happened

00:21:25.979 --> 00:21:26.919
 if the Jewish leaders

00:21:26.919 --> 00:21:28.000
 did not insist

00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:30.559
 that the bodies die

00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:32.519
 before the normal Roman practice

00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.500
 not be followed

00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:35.220
 and Jesus is put in a tomb.

00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:37.680
 Time and time and time again,

00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:38.920
 the enemies of Jesus

00:21:38.920 --> 00:21:40.160
 unwittingly fulfill

00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:41.079
 the prophecies.

00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:42.500
 It is not something

00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:42.980
 that Jesus

00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:43.819
 and his disciples

00:21:43.819 --> 00:21:44.579
 orchestrate.

00:21:46.599 --> 00:21:47.180
 And this is,

00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:48.680
 just to think about it,

00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:50.599
 that God could say something

00:21:50.599 --> 00:21:52.359
 through David

00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:54.099
 a thousand years earlier

00:21:54.099 --> 00:21:55.759
 and then he keeps

00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:57.759
 his word.

00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:01.240
 That's why we read the Bible.

00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:03.460
 He keeps his word.

00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:07.000
 So what happens?

00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:07.619
 There's still,

00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:09.539
 look at verse 25.

00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:11.579
 Remember I said

00:22:11.579 --> 00:22:13.059
 this is an eyewitness biography

00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:14.400
 and we hear now

00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:15.559
 of some of the eyewitnesses.

00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:15.779
 In fact,

00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:16.660
 we hear of five

00:22:16.660 --> 00:22:18.380
 of the eyewitnesses

00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:18.940
 that are going to be

00:22:18.940 --> 00:22:20.140
 very important probably

00:22:20.140 --> 00:22:21.380
 even in the writing of this.

00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:22.640
 Verse 25,

00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:23.900
 but standing by the cross

00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:24.380
 of Jesus

00:22:24.380 --> 00:22:25.140
 were his mother

00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:27.380
 and his mother's sister,

00:22:27.619 --> 00:22:28.220
 second woman,

00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:29.460
 and Mary,

00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:30.420
 the wife of Clopas,

00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:31.180
 a third woman,

00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:32.480
 and Mary Magdalene,

00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:34.079
 the fourth woman.

00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:36.000
 And when Jesus

00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:37.440
 saw his,

00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:38.620
 and just pause here,

00:22:38.819 --> 00:22:40.160
 in the original language

00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:41.000
 you can't get this

00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:42.500
 in the English.

00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:45.259
 And I'm not going to say

00:22:45.259 --> 00:22:45.880
 very much of it

00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:46.759
 because on Friday

00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:47.460
 we're going to have

00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:48.380
 people talking about

00:22:48.380 --> 00:22:48.940
 the last words

00:22:48.940 --> 00:22:49.460
 of the cross,

00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:49.720
 but,

00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:50.980
 you know,

00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:52.039
 the Old Testament,

00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:52.599
 what we call

00:22:52.599 --> 00:22:53.180
 the Old Testament

00:22:53.180 --> 00:22:54.079
 was written in Hebrew,

00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:55.440
 but very early on,

00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:56.539
 like at the time of Jesus,

00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:57.279
 most people,

00:22:57.380 --> 00:22:58.220
 when they read

00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:59.779
 the Old Testament,

00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.680
 most Jewish people,

00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:01.500
 they read it actually

00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:02.500
 in the Greek version,

00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:03.440
 the Greek translation

00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:04.100
 of the Hebrew.

00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:06.839
 And in the Greek translation

00:23:06.839 --> 00:23:07.640
 of the Hebrew,

00:23:07.900 --> 00:23:08.539
 if you're reading it,

00:23:08.600 --> 00:23:09.620
 if you read Genesis 2

00:23:09.620 --> 00:23:10.420
 and Genesis 3,

00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:11.600
 whenever it talks about Eve

00:23:11.600 --> 00:23:12.339
 in Genesis 2

00:23:12.339 --> 00:23:13.240
 and Genesis 3,

00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:15.000
 it uses the word woman,

00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:17.480
 the same word

00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:18.880
 that Jesus speaks to Mary.

00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:19.960
 I don't know what it means,

00:23:20.660 --> 00:23:21.980
 and maybe Peter's going to say

00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:22.980
 a few things about it

00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:24.400
 come on Good Friday,

00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:25.460
 but it's the same word,

00:23:25.460 --> 00:23:27.940
 and there's ties in between this

00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:28.680
 because,

00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:29.720
 as you see,

00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:31.299
 Jesus is crucified in the garden,

00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:32.460
 he's buried in the garden,

00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:33.900
 and in the garden,

00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:34.799
 there's a woman

00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:37.319
 who uses the same word

00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:38.880
 to refer to all women,

00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:39.519
 or Eve,

00:23:39.600 --> 00:23:41.140
 is used to refer to Mary.

00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:42.700
 It's just one of those

00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:43.220
 interesting,

00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:44.779
 there's so many things in here,

00:23:45.340 --> 00:23:46.700
 there's so many things in here

00:23:46.700 --> 00:23:48.240
 that poets and theologians

00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:48.960
 and musicians

00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:49.960
 and hymn writers

00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:51.600
 and philosophers

00:23:51.600 --> 00:23:52.799
 and dreamers,

00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:54.279
 you can look at it

00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:55.299
 and meditate upon it

00:23:55.299 --> 00:23:56.220
 for year upon year

00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:56.700
 upon year

00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:57.759
 and never plumb the depths.

00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:01.460
 Go back to it,

00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:02.399
 verse 25 again,

00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:03.639
 but standing by the cross

00:24:03.639 --> 00:24:04.099
 of Jesus

00:24:04.099 --> 00:24:04.799
 where his mother,

00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.119
 the first woman,

00:24:06.659 --> 00:24:07.720
 his mother's sister,

00:24:08.619 --> 00:24:09.220
 the second woman,

00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:09.879
 the third woman,

00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:10.119
 Mary,

00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:11.039
 the wife of Clopas,

00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:12.000
 and then the fourth woman,

00:24:12.099 --> 00:24:12.879
 Mary Magdalene,

00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:15.079
 when Jesus saw his mother

00:24:15.079 --> 00:24:15.720
 and the disciple

00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.259
 whom he loved

00:24:16.259 --> 00:24:17.099
 standing nearby,

00:24:18.099 --> 00:24:19.019
 he said to his mother,

00:24:19.119 --> 00:24:19.359
 Woman,

00:24:19.899 --> 00:24:20.799
 behold your son.

00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:22.659
 Then he said to the disciple,

00:24:23.139 --> 00:24:23.899
 Behold your mother.

00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:25.500
 From that hour,

00:24:25.820 --> 00:24:27.720
 the disciple took her

00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:29.259
 to his own home.

00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:32.680
 And I just want to pause here

00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:33.080
 for a second.

00:24:33.140 --> 00:24:34.100
 There's a really important thing.

00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:34.280
 You know,

00:24:34.320 --> 00:24:35.900
 we take these last words

00:24:35.900 --> 00:24:37.040
 of Jesus for granted,

00:24:37.300 --> 00:24:39.280
 but one of the things

00:24:39.280 --> 00:24:40.680
 out of the four biographies,

00:24:40.780 --> 00:24:42.320
 there's things in this biography

00:24:42.320 --> 00:24:44.460
 that John doesn't talk about

00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:45.519
 that the others talk about.

00:24:45.600 --> 00:24:46.180
 There's not going to be

00:24:46.180 --> 00:24:46.740
 the darkness,

00:24:46.940 --> 00:24:47.460
 there's not going to be

00:24:47.460 --> 00:24:48.000
 the earthquakes,

00:24:48.280 --> 00:24:48.860
 there's not going to be

00:24:48.860 --> 00:24:50.340
 the rending of the temple.

00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:51.200
 There's things that

00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:52.440
 John doesn't tell us about.

00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:53.400
 He tells us other things.

00:24:53.860 --> 00:24:54.559
 Three of Jesus'

00:24:54.820 --> 00:24:55.799
 final seven words

00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:56.480
 from the cross

00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:57.440
 are recorded by John.

00:24:58.059 --> 00:24:58.860
 But do you know

00:24:58.860 --> 00:24:59.660
 what the final words

00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:00.299
 of Buddha were

00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:01.140
 before he died?

00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:01.820
 Like,

00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:03.259
 Buddha was probably

00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:04.400
 an historical person.

00:25:05.160 --> 00:25:05.580
 And do you know

00:25:05.580 --> 00:25:06.620
 what the final words

00:25:06.620 --> 00:25:07.740
 of Buddha were?

00:25:09.460 --> 00:25:10.340
 They were,

00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:12.380
 I exhort you,

00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:14.860
 all compound things

00:25:14.860 --> 00:25:16.380
 are subject to vanish.

00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:18.440
 And his final words,

00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:21.000
 strive with earnestness.

00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:21.799
 In other words,

00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:24.420
 unceasingly strive.

00:25:28.180 --> 00:25:28.759
 It's very,

00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.500
 very interesting,

00:25:29.619 --> 00:25:29.779
 right?

00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:30.220
 When he says

00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:31.079
 the compound,

00:25:31.900 --> 00:25:33.200
 when he says

00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:34.980
 all compound things

00:25:34.980 --> 00:25:35.940
 are subject to vanish,

00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:36.200
 right?

00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:37.559
 It's a key part of Buddhism

00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:38.440
 that I might think

00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:39.440
 that I'm different than Helen,

00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:40.279
 but I'm mistaken.

00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:41.079
 That's an illusion.

00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:42.759
 I might think

00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:43.359
 that I want

00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:45.200
 to have more money

00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:45.819
 or I'd like to have

00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:46.799
 a nicer car

00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:47.839
 or a nicer house.

00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:48.980
 If you're single,

00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:49.579
 you might think

00:25:49.579 --> 00:25:50.240
 you'd like to have

00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:51.519
 a wife or a husband,

00:25:51.699 --> 00:25:52.240
 but that's all,

00:25:52.419 --> 00:25:53.539
 it's an illusion

00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:54.859
 to think that there's difference.

00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.819
 And at the end

00:25:56.819 --> 00:25:57.960
 of the end

00:25:57.960 --> 00:25:58.319
 of the end

00:25:58.319 --> 00:25:59.359
 of all of the processes,

00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:00.720
 you come to realize

00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:02.119
 that it's all illusion,

00:26:02.299 --> 00:26:03.399
 that there is no difference

00:26:03.399 --> 00:26:04.379
 between things

00:26:04.379 --> 00:26:05.939
 and that all is one.

00:26:07.639 --> 00:26:08.960
 And then he says

00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:09.980
 to keep striving

00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:11.440
 for this unfailingly

00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:12.759
 with earnestness.

00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:14.599
 And it's so interesting,

00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:14.940
 isn't it?

00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:16.120
 Jesus' final words

00:26:16.120 --> 00:26:16.860
 are so different.

00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:19.039
 We're going to see here

00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:19.420
 in a moment

00:26:19.420 --> 00:26:21.079
 that he looks at his mother

00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:21.920
 whom he loves

00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:23.180
 and he looks at the disciple

00:26:23.180 --> 00:26:24.240
 and he looks at the woman

00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:26.900
 and he doesn't say,

00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:27.779
 Mom,

00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:29.400
 you're just an illusion.

00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:32.900
 I hope you come to realize

00:26:32.900 --> 00:26:34.500
 that there's no you

00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:35.099
 and me.

00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:35.680
 It's just,

00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:38.960
 it's all going to vanish.

00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:39.640
 He says,

00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:40.420
 no, Mom,

00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:42.400
 this guy's going to

00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:43.220
 take care of you.

00:26:43.880 --> 00:26:44.299
 Friend,

00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:45.340
 take care of my mom.

00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:47.340
 He's going to say,

00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:48.079
 I thirst.

00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:48.539
 He's going to say,

00:26:48.600 --> 00:26:49.220
 it's finished.

00:26:49.940 --> 00:26:50.920
 Very, very different.

00:26:51.840 --> 00:26:52.720
 But the difference

00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:53.680
 between the dying words

00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:54.100
 of Jesus

00:26:54.100 --> 00:26:55.059
 and the dying words

00:26:55.059 --> 00:26:55.740
 of Muhammad

00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:56.640
 are terrifying.

00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:04.519
 Muhammad died

00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:06.200
 in the home of Aisha.

00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:06.279
 Aisha.

00:27:08.220 --> 00:27:09.460
 Aisha is the woman

00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:10.620
 that Muhammad married

00:27:10.620 --> 00:27:12.000
 when she was six.

00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:14.000
 I'm not making that up.

00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:17.160
 And he didn't consummate

00:27:17.160 --> 00:27:17.660
 the marriage

00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:19.340
 with this six-year-old

00:27:19.340 --> 00:27:19.960
 right away.

00:27:20.059 --> 00:27:20.400
 He waited

00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:21.460
 until she was nine

00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:24.019
 before he consummated

00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:24.740
 his marriage.

00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:26.880
 And he was with

00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:28.000
 this woman

00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:29.220
 nine years later.

00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:30.380
 She was 18

00:27:30.380 --> 00:27:31.279
 when he died.

00:27:32.400 --> 00:27:33.160
 And it's recorded

00:27:33.160 --> 00:27:34.319
 that he talks about

00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:35.160
 four things

00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:35.880
 as he's dying.

00:27:36.560 --> 00:27:37.259
 The first thing

00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:37.759
 he says

00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:38.560
 is he curses

00:27:38.560 --> 00:27:39.500
 all Christians

00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:40.259
 and Jews.

00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:42.300
 Curses them.

00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:44.800
 The second thing

00:27:44.800 --> 00:27:45.420
 he says

00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:47.519
 is gives orders

00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:48.480
 to his followers

00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:49.340
 to make sure

00:27:49.340 --> 00:27:50.640
 that every pagan

00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:51.660
 is expelled

00:27:51.660 --> 00:27:52.840
 from the peninsula.

00:27:53.840 --> 00:27:54.960
 They can convert.

00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:56.660
 If they don't convert

00:27:56.660 --> 00:27:57.480
 and they don't get

00:27:57.480 --> 00:27:57.960
 expelled,

00:27:58.100 --> 00:27:58.800
 they are to be killed.

00:27:58.799 --> 00:28:01.460
 The third thing

00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:02.059
 he says

00:28:02.059 --> 00:28:03.480
 on his deathbed

00:28:03.480 --> 00:28:05.839
 is that he hopes

00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:06.799
 that when he dies,

00:28:06.839 --> 00:28:08.000
 which will be very soon,

00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:08.659
 that he will get

00:28:08.659 --> 00:28:09.559
 the highest place

00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:10.039
 in heaven.

00:28:11.639 --> 00:28:12.700
 And the fourth thing

00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.279
 that he says

00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:15.440
 is he's recorded

00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:16.259
 begging Allah

00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:17.419
 for forgiveness.

00:28:21.379 --> 00:28:22.180
 And Jesus

00:28:22.180 --> 00:28:23.740
 says,

00:28:23.899 --> 00:28:24.159
 Mom,

00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:27.000
 here's the guy

00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:28.019
 who's going to take care of you.

00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:30.200
 friend,

00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:31.980
 take care of my mom.

00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:34.240
 And he's going to say,

00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:34.839
 I thirst.

00:28:35.379 --> 00:28:36.200
 And he's going to say,

00:28:36.579 --> 00:28:37.940
 it is finished.

00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:39.879
 And these are the final words

00:28:39.879 --> 00:28:40.500
 of Jesus

00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:43.139
 in comparison

00:28:43.139 --> 00:28:44.980
 to the two great alternatives

00:28:44.980 --> 00:28:45.900
 to Christianity

00:28:45.900 --> 00:28:47.859
 in the Western world

00:28:47.859 --> 00:28:48.960
 of Buddhism

00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:50.039
 and Islam.

00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:52.099
 You see,

00:28:52.180 --> 00:28:53.099
 we take for granted

00:28:53.099 --> 00:28:54.059
 these final words

00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:54.519
 of Jesus

00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:55.559
 without realizing

00:28:55.559 --> 00:28:56.839
 how profoundly

00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:57.740
 radical

00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:59.399
 they are

00:28:59.399 --> 00:29:03.180
 in the sea

00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:04.539
 of religious options

00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:05.359
 before us.

00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:09.680
 The story continues.

00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:10.519
 Verse 28.

00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:14.639
 After this,

00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.000
 Jesus,

00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:15.759
 knowing that all

00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:16.579
 was now finished,

00:29:16.680 --> 00:29:17.379
 said to fulfill

00:29:17.379 --> 00:29:17.960
 the scriptures,

00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:18.660
 I thirst.

00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:21.240
 A jar full of sour wine

00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:21.859
 stood there,

00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:23.200
 so they put a sponge

00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:24.579
 full of the sour wine

00:29:24.579 --> 00:29:25.740
 on a hyssop branch

00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:26.740
 and held it to his mouth.

00:29:27.420 --> 00:29:28.660
 When Jesus had received

00:29:28.660 --> 00:29:29.619
 the sour wine,

00:29:30.619 --> 00:29:31.099
 he said,

00:29:31.180 --> 00:29:31.839
 it is finished.

00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:33.480
 In the original language,

00:29:33.559 --> 00:29:34.420
 that's one word.

00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:36.180
 It is finished.

00:29:36.299 --> 00:29:37.099
 It takes three words

00:29:37.099 --> 00:29:37.480
 in English,

00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:38.240
 but it's one word

00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:39.220
 in the original language.

00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:40.920
 And he bowed his head

00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:42.980
 and gave up his spirit.

00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:46.400
 And in the original language,

00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:47.140
 the phrase

00:29:47.140 --> 00:29:48.079
 gave up his spirit

00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:49.400
 in all of the Bible

00:29:49.400 --> 00:29:51.160
 from Genesis 1

00:29:51.160 --> 00:29:52.140
 to the end of Revelation,

00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:54.759
 that way of expressing death

00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:55.559
 is never used

00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:56.819
 of any other person.

00:29:57.799 --> 00:29:58.400
 And it,

00:29:58.579 --> 00:29:59.660
 in the original language,

00:29:59.799 --> 00:30:01.059
 implies that Jesus

00:30:01.059 --> 00:30:01.960
 couldn't have died

00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:02.920
 against his will.

00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:08.560
 that he had to actually

00:30:08.560 --> 00:30:10.039
 allow death,

00:30:10.519 --> 00:30:11.140
 in a sense,

00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:12.140
 to consume him.

00:30:13.560 --> 00:30:14.640
 And that he willingly

00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:15.940
 allows death

00:30:15.940 --> 00:30:17.500
 to take him.

00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:20.600
 And his final words here

00:30:20.600 --> 00:30:20.900
 are,

00:30:21.060 --> 00:30:21.860
 it is finished.

00:30:22.539 --> 00:30:24.340
 And it's a telos word.

00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:25.759
 It's a word

00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:27.360
 that's very foreign

00:30:27.360 --> 00:30:28.259
 to how we tend

00:30:28.259 --> 00:30:28.800
 to think of

00:30:28.800 --> 00:30:30.000
 in terms of our own lives.

00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:31.380
 It's a word

00:30:31.380 --> 00:30:32.200
 that implies

00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:33.200
 that there's a purpose,

00:30:33.319 --> 00:30:34.140
 not just a purpose

00:30:34.140 --> 00:30:35.180
 that he has grasped

00:30:35.180 --> 00:30:35.900
 for himself,

00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:37.640
 but a real purpose,

00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:39.339
 an ontological purpose,

00:30:39.460 --> 00:30:39.940
 a purpose

00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:40.559
 that's been given

00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:41.640
 to him by God,

00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:42.339
 by the creator

00:30:42.339 --> 00:30:42.980
 of the universe,

00:30:43.579 --> 00:30:45.160
 and that his whole life

00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:47.339
 had a series of things

00:30:47.339 --> 00:30:48.599
 that he had to accomplish

00:30:48.599 --> 00:30:49.960
 and that he had to finish

00:30:49.960 --> 00:30:51.339
 on behalf of others,

00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:52.759
 and that as he's dying

00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.579
 on the cross,

00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:56.119
 that has occurred.

00:30:56.460 --> 00:30:57.579
 Everything that had

00:30:57.579 --> 00:30:58.319
 to be completed

00:30:58.319 --> 00:30:59.079
 was completed.

00:30:59.079 --> 00:31:00.119
 Everything that had

00:31:00.119 --> 00:31:00.839
 to be accomplished

00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:01.619
 was accomplished.

00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:02.720
 It was finished.

00:31:02.839 --> 00:31:04.179
 There was nothing left over.

00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:06.899
 Everything that he came

00:31:06.899 --> 00:31:08.179
 to earth to do

00:31:08.179 --> 00:31:09.259
 was done

00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:10.899
 with not a drop

00:31:10.899 --> 00:31:11.859
 left over.

00:31:12.399 --> 00:31:13.599
 That's what he's saying

00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:15.399
 there in his death.

00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:18.119
 And then we have here

00:31:18.119 --> 00:31:19.039
 in a very small

00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:19.859
 and subtle way

00:31:19.859 --> 00:31:21.419
 this continual critique

00:31:21.419 --> 00:31:22.000
 of religion

00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:22.960
 in verse 31.

00:31:23.720 --> 00:31:24.779
 Since it was the day

00:31:24.779 --> 00:31:25.559
 of preparation

00:31:25.559 --> 00:31:26.980
 and so that the bodies

00:31:26.980 --> 00:31:27.679
 would not remain

00:31:27.679 --> 00:31:28.379
 on the cross

00:31:28.380 --> 00:31:29.380
 on the Sabbath day

00:31:29.380 --> 00:31:30.700
 for that Sabbath

00:31:30.700 --> 00:31:31.740
 was a high day,

00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:33.960
 the Jewish religious leaders,

00:31:34.080 --> 00:31:35.240
 the spiritual leaders,

00:31:35.360 --> 00:31:36.120
 asked Pilate

00:31:36.120 --> 00:31:36.920
 that their legs

00:31:36.920 --> 00:31:37.740
 might be broken

00:31:37.740 --> 00:31:38.840
 and that they might

00:31:38.840 --> 00:31:39.640
 be taken away.

00:31:40.060 --> 00:31:40.880
 How is this a critique

00:31:40.880 --> 00:31:41.400
 of religion?

00:31:42.080 --> 00:31:43.380
 They have just spent

00:31:43.380 --> 00:31:44.700
 weeks if not months

00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:46.060
 and an intense,

00:31:46.560 --> 00:31:47.440
 intense

00:31:47.440 --> 00:31:49.260
 eight hours

00:31:49.260 --> 00:31:50.200
 or twelve hours

00:31:50.200 --> 00:31:51.300
 capturing Jesus

00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:52.619
 and hectoring

00:31:52.619 --> 00:31:54.059
 for his judicial murder.

00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:57.079
 But they're worried

00:31:57.079 --> 00:31:59.659
 that a tiny

00:31:59.659 --> 00:32:00.899
 little commandment

00:32:00.899 --> 00:32:02.460
 in Deuteronomy

00:32:02.460 --> 00:32:03.440
 will be broken

00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:05.019
 by having the bodies

00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:07.079
 displayed.

00:32:07.079 --> 00:32:08.819
 It is a profound

00:32:08.819 --> 00:32:09.759
 critique

00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:11.460
 of the inadequacy

00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:12.279
 of even

00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:14.220
 the best religion

00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:17.759
 in this small

00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:18.539
 aside.

00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:20.579
 And as I said earlier,

00:32:21.400 --> 00:32:22.740
 against their will

00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:25.480
 they act

00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:25.980
 to fulfill

00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:26.600
 the scripture.

00:32:28.339 --> 00:32:28.960
 Verse 32,

00:32:29.079 --> 00:32:29.680
 so the soldiers

00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:30.380
 came and broke

00:32:30.380 --> 00:32:30.779
 the legs

00:32:30.779 --> 00:32:31.400
 of the first

00:32:31.400 --> 00:32:32.059
 and of the other

00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:32.539
 who had been

00:32:32.539 --> 00:32:33.519
 crucified with him.

00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:34.839
 But when they came

00:32:34.839 --> 00:32:35.319
 to Jesus

00:32:35.319 --> 00:32:36.160
 they saw that

00:32:36.160 --> 00:32:37.039
 he was already dead

00:32:37.039 --> 00:32:37.480
 and they did not

00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:38.160
 break his legs.

00:32:38.259 --> 00:32:38.380
 Why?

00:32:38.460 --> 00:32:38.880
 They'd see that

00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:39.539
 he was not breathing.

00:32:39.640 --> 00:32:40.079
 Not only that,

00:32:40.140 --> 00:32:40.579
 they'd see that

00:32:40.579 --> 00:32:41.339
 he'd stopped bleeding.

00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:42.659
 Remember,

00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:43.500
 he'd had thorns

00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:44.039
 in his head.

00:32:44.099 --> 00:32:45.279
 He'd been whipped

00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:47.539
 mercilessly

00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:48.459
 on his back.

00:32:48.639 --> 00:32:49.859
 He stopped bleeding.

00:32:50.179 --> 00:32:50.619
 These guys

00:32:50.619 --> 00:32:51.359
 were used to death.

00:32:51.419 --> 00:32:52.139
 He wasn't breathing.

00:32:53.139 --> 00:32:53.819
 But one of the ways

00:32:53.819 --> 00:32:54.379
 that they might have,

00:32:54.399 --> 00:32:54.899
 there's lots of

00:32:54.899 --> 00:32:55.879
 historical evidence

00:32:55.879 --> 00:32:56.279
 of this.

00:32:56.339 --> 00:32:56.759
 One of the ways

00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:57.439
 they would just see

00:32:57.439 --> 00:32:58.220
 if he's still alive

00:32:58.220 --> 00:32:58.839
 is you go to,

00:32:58.919 --> 00:32:59.500
 you poke him.

00:33:00.019 --> 00:33:01.000
 You make some pain

00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:01.720
 and if the person

00:33:01.720 --> 00:33:02.220
 jerks,

00:33:02.279 --> 00:33:02.599
 obviously,

00:33:02.699 --> 00:33:02.779
 oh,

00:33:02.819 --> 00:33:03.459
 there's a bit of life

00:33:03.459 --> 00:33:04.579
 left in that person still

00:33:04.579 --> 00:33:04.899
 and it was

00:33:04.899 --> 00:33:06.159
 an ungentle

00:33:06.159 --> 00:33:07.500
 pricking,

00:33:07.699 --> 00:33:08.179
 a pricking

00:33:08.179 --> 00:33:09.019
 that actually went

00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:09.579
 and pierced

00:33:09.579 --> 00:33:10.740
 between the ribs

00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:12.920
 and went right

00:33:12.920 --> 00:33:13.660
 up to the heart.

00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:15.839
 But when they came,

00:33:15.960 --> 00:33:16.539
 verse 33,

00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:17.259
 to Jesus

00:33:17.259 --> 00:33:17.839
 and saw that

00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:18.620
 he was already dead,

00:33:18.680 --> 00:33:19.099
 they did not

00:33:19.099 --> 00:33:19.940
 break his legs.

00:33:20.700 --> 00:33:21.579
 But one of the soldiers

00:33:21.579 --> 00:33:22.500
 pierced his side

00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:23.099
 with a spear

00:33:23.099 --> 00:33:23.599
 and at once

00:33:23.599 --> 00:33:24.279
 there came out

00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:25.200
 blood and water.

00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:27.079
 He who saw it

00:33:27.079 --> 00:33:27.859
 has borne witness,

00:33:27.980 --> 00:33:29.160
 his testimony is true

00:33:29.160 --> 00:33:29.680
 and he knows

00:33:29.680 --> 00:33:30.359
 that he is telling

00:33:30.359 --> 00:33:30.819
 the truth

00:33:30.819 --> 00:33:31.900
 that you may believe.

00:33:32.460 --> 00:33:33.299
 For these things

00:33:33.299 --> 00:33:33.960
 took place

00:33:33.960 --> 00:33:34.680
 that the scripture

00:33:34.680 --> 00:33:35.640
 might be fulfilled.

00:33:35.799 --> 00:33:36.680
 Not one of his bones

00:33:36.680 --> 00:33:37.359
 will be broken.

00:33:38.039 --> 00:33:38.440
 And again,

00:33:38.519 --> 00:33:39.480
 another scripture says

00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:40.339
 they will look on him

00:33:40.339 --> 00:33:41.759
 whom they have pierced.

00:33:42.559 --> 00:33:43.740
 And after these things,

00:33:43.879 --> 00:33:45.619
 Joseph of Arimathea,

00:33:45.720 --> 00:33:46.419
 who was a disciple

00:33:46.419 --> 00:33:46.919
 of Jesus,

00:33:47.079 --> 00:33:47.659
 but secretly

00:33:47.659 --> 00:33:48.619
 for fear of the Jews,

00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:49.419
 asked Pilate

00:33:49.419 --> 00:33:50.939
 that he might take away

00:33:50.939 --> 00:33:52.019
 the body of Jesus.

00:33:52.159 --> 00:33:53.500
 Remember all these times,

00:33:53.720 --> 00:33:54.500
 the piercing,

00:33:54.679 --> 00:33:55.099
 the body,

00:33:55.199 --> 00:33:55.819
 the language,

00:33:56.559 --> 00:33:57.220
 he's dead.

00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:58.559
 And Pilate

00:33:58.559 --> 00:33:59.339
 gave him permission.

00:33:59.859 --> 00:34:00.839
 So Joseph came

00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:01.959
 and took away his body.

00:34:02.379 --> 00:34:03.279
 Nicodemus also,

00:34:03.439 --> 00:34:04.419
 who earlier had come

00:34:04.419 --> 00:34:05.419
 to Jesus by night,

00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:07.019
 came bringing a mixture

00:34:07.019 --> 00:34:08.280
 of myrrh and aloes,

00:34:08.360 --> 00:34:10.179
 about 75 pounds in weight.

00:34:10.820 --> 00:34:11.380
 So they took

00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:12.500
 the body of Jesus

00:34:12.500 --> 00:34:13.300
 and bound it

00:34:13.300 --> 00:34:14.360
 in linen cloths

00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:15.300
 really tight

00:34:15.300 --> 00:34:16.820
 with the spices

00:34:16.820 --> 00:34:19.159
 as is the burial custom

00:34:19.159 --> 00:34:20.059
 of the Jewish people.

00:34:20.880 --> 00:34:21.599
 Now in the place

00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:22.440
 where he was crucified,

00:34:22.599 --> 00:34:23.320
 there was a garden

00:34:23.320 --> 00:34:24.139
 and in the garden

00:34:24.139 --> 00:34:24.800
 a new tomb

00:34:24.800 --> 00:34:25.880
 in which no one

00:34:25.880 --> 00:34:27.139
 had yet been laid.

00:34:27.280 --> 00:34:28.460
 No one had yet been laid.

00:34:29.199 --> 00:34:30.079
 Setting the stage

00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:30.880
 for the resurrection,

00:34:31.099 --> 00:34:31.980
 there's no other bodies

00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:32.440
 in there.

00:34:32.440 --> 00:34:35.000
 It's not like

00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:35.820
 it would be very common

00:34:35.820 --> 00:34:36.460
 to have a grave

00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:37.500
 that had many bodies

00:34:37.500 --> 00:34:37.780
 in it.

00:34:37.820 --> 00:34:38.500
 They found them.

00:34:38.760 --> 00:34:39.519
 Archaeologists find them

00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:40.019
 all the time.

00:34:40.099 --> 00:34:41.159
 But in this particular grave,

00:34:41.200 --> 00:34:41.720
 it's brand new.

00:34:41.800 --> 00:34:42.760
 No other bodies in there.

00:34:42.780 --> 00:34:43.220
 There's not going to be

00:34:43.220 --> 00:34:44.059
 any confusion

00:34:44.059 --> 00:34:45.340
 when they come in

00:34:45.340 --> 00:34:45.579
 and say,

00:34:45.659 --> 00:34:46.340
 did Jesus rise?

00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:47.159
 Okay, let's just

00:34:47.159 --> 00:34:48.079
 all these other bodies

00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:49.800
 to see if...

00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:50.940
 We're one short,

00:34:51.099 --> 00:34:51.679
 but is it Jesus?

00:34:51.920 --> 00:34:52.280
 No, no.

00:34:52.360 --> 00:34:53.420
 It's setting the stage

00:34:53.420 --> 00:34:53.940
 and it's going to be

00:34:53.940 --> 00:34:54.380
 a tomb,

00:34:54.780 --> 00:34:55.679
 a limestone cave,

00:34:55.740 --> 00:34:56.619
 no other way into it,

00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:57.639
 no way to dig into it.

00:34:57.639 --> 00:34:58.539
 It's setting the stage

00:34:58.539 --> 00:34:59.039
 for the miracle

00:34:59.039 --> 00:34:59.820
 of the resurrection.

00:34:59.820 --> 00:35:02.559
 Verse 41 again,

00:35:02.640 --> 00:35:03.240
 And now in the place

00:35:03.240 --> 00:35:03.940
 where he was crucified,

00:35:04.080 --> 00:35:04.740
 there was a garden

00:35:04.740 --> 00:35:05.280
 and the garden

00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:05.840
 a new tomb

00:35:05.840 --> 00:35:06.460
 in which no one

00:35:06.460 --> 00:35:07.000
 had been laid.

00:35:07.220 --> 00:35:08.039
 So because of the

00:35:08.039 --> 00:35:09.200
 Jewish day of preparation,

00:35:09.200 --> 00:35:09.920
 since the tomb

00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:10.740
 was close at hand,

00:35:11.360 --> 00:35:12.460
 they laid Jesus there.

00:35:14.220 --> 00:35:16.580
 Now just a couple of things

00:35:16.580 --> 00:35:17.420
 to bring this home

00:35:17.420 --> 00:35:18.820
 as a bit of a conclusion.

00:35:20.900 --> 00:35:22.059
 I was watching a movie

00:35:22.059 --> 00:35:22.559
 this week,

00:35:22.600 --> 00:35:23.740
 no surprise to many of you.

00:35:23.800 --> 00:35:24.500
 I like watching

00:35:24.500 --> 00:35:25.480
 things like movies

00:35:25.480 --> 00:35:25.860
 and all,

00:35:25.940 --> 00:35:26.420
 and I was watching

00:35:26.420 --> 00:35:27.200
 a movie this week

00:35:27.200 --> 00:35:29.120
 and part of the movie

00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:30.500
 is that a young boy,

00:35:30.659 --> 00:35:31.779
 six or seven year old boy,

00:35:31.839 --> 00:35:32.699
 his mom dies

00:35:32.699 --> 00:35:33.420
 and he gets sent

00:35:33.420 --> 00:35:34.639
 to live with his eccentric

00:35:34.639 --> 00:35:36.739
 and scientific uncle.

00:35:36.859 --> 00:35:37.819
 His uncle's consumed

00:35:37.819 --> 00:35:38.659
 with science.

00:35:39.659 --> 00:35:41.039
 And so the little boy,

00:35:41.119 --> 00:35:42.199
 his mom has died.

00:35:42.920 --> 00:35:44.579
 They don't make any comment

00:35:44.579 --> 00:35:46.299
 about the biological dad.

00:35:46.859 --> 00:35:47.960
 Seems to be out of the picture.

00:35:48.119 --> 00:35:49.099
 So the boy comes

00:35:49.099 --> 00:35:50.880
 and he's with this

00:35:50.880 --> 00:35:52.539
 eccentric scientific guy

00:35:52.539 --> 00:35:53.659
 and the boy out of the blue

00:35:53.659 --> 00:35:55.139
 says that my mom died

00:35:55.139 --> 00:35:58.019
 and the guy says,

00:35:58.079 --> 00:35:58.219
 oh yeah,

00:35:58.259 --> 00:35:58.440
 I know,

00:35:58.500 --> 00:35:59.019
 that's sad.

00:35:59.079 --> 00:35:59.559
 And she said,

00:35:59.619 --> 00:35:59.799
 well,

00:35:59.940 --> 00:36:00.839
 she's in heaven.

00:36:01.359 --> 00:36:02.279
 And without thinking,

00:36:02.699 --> 00:36:03.420
 the guy says,

00:36:03.460 --> 00:36:04.319
 that's a fairy tale.

00:36:05.920 --> 00:36:06.879
 That's a fairy tale.

00:36:08.960 --> 00:36:09.639
 She's dead.

00:36:11.639 --> 00:36:12.639
 When you die,

00:36:12.859 --> 00:36:13.480
 you die.

00:36:14.199 --> 00:36:15.319
 And he sees the little face

00:36:15.319 --> 00:36:16.119
 start to crumble.

00:36:18.199 --> 00:36:19.159
 And he says,

00:36:19.679 --> 00:36:21.980
 but if that gives you comfort

00:36:21.980 --> 00:36:22.920
 and makes you feel good,

00:36:23.019 --> 00:36:24.199
 then you should believe that.

00:36:24.199 --> 00:36:25.159
 You should believe that.

00:36:25.299 --> 00:36:26.219
 Don't listen to me.

00:36:26.279 --> 00:36:26.939
 You believe that.

00:36:27.079 --> 00:36:28.319
 So he's not completely

00:36:28.319 --> 00:36:28.939
 hard-hearted.

00:36:29.119 --> 00:36:29.919
 But he just speaks

00:36:29.919 --> 00:36:30.559
 like a scientist.

00:36:30.679 --> 00:36:31.179
 When you're dead,

00:36:31.539 --> 00:36:31.960
 you're dead.

00:36:33.139 --> 00:36:33.699
 So here's,

00:36:33.859 --> 00:36:34.480
 there are not going to be

00:36:34.480 --> 00:36:35.099
 points that are up

00:36:35.099 --> 00:36:35.679
 on the screen.

00:36:35.859 --> 00:36:36.659
 I might put them

00:36:36.659 --> 00:36:37.599
 in some type of writing

00:36:37.599 --> 00:36:38.059
 later on.

00:36:38.099 --> 00:36:39.019
 They'll be posted later.

00:36:39.599 --> 00:36:41.000
 But there's two things

00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:41.960
 going on here.

00:36:42.759 --> 00:36:43.119
 You see,

00:36:43.179 --> 00:36:44.419
 what people are observing,

00:36:44.939 --> 00:36:45.579
 remember I said

00:36:45.579 --> 00:36:47.019
 the death of a troublesome Jew

00:36:47.019 --> 00:36:49.279
 is not particularly significant.

00:36:49.460 --> 00:36:50.139
 There's no religious

00:36:50.139 --> 00:36:51.319
 significance for it

00:36:51.319 --> 00:36:51.939
 in particular.

00:36:51.940 --> 00:36:53.639
 And what the people

00:36:53.639 --> 00:36:54.559
 there were seeing

00:36:54.559 --> 00:36:56.619
 was the tragic death

00:36:56.619 --> 00:36:58.079
 of a problematic man.

00:36:58.700 --> 00:36:59.800
 What people were seeing

00:36:59.800 --> 00:37:01.220
 was the tragic death

00:37:01.220 --> 00:37:02.619
 of a problematic man.

00:37:03.500 --> 00:37:05.619
 But what God wants us

00:37:05.619 --> 00:37:06.679
 to see and understand

00:37:06.679 --> 00:37:09.500
 is fairy tales

00:37:09.500 --> 00:37:10.639
 becoming fact.

00:37:11.900 --> 00:37:14.320
 Myth becoming fact.

00:37:14.320 --> 00:37:19.300
 What the crowd sees

00:37:19.300 --> 00:37:21.280
 is the tragic death

00:37:21.280 --> 00:37:22.500
 of a problematic man.

00:37:23.300 --> 00:37:24.580
 But what God wants us

00:37:24.580 --> 00:37:25.019
 to see

00:37:25.019 --> 00:37:27.620
 is that fairy tales

00:37:27.620 --> 00:37:28.380
 and myths

00:37:28.380 --> 00:37:30.960
 have become fact.

00:37:32.280 --> 00:37:32.800
 See,

00:37:32.880 --> 00:37:33.480
 the fact of the matter

00:37:33.480 --> 00:37:34.720
 is that

00:37:34.720 --> 00:37:37.539
 if Jesus just stays

00:37:37.539 --> 00:37:38.080
 dead,

00:37:38.620 --> 00:37:39.519
 then really

00:37:39.519 --> 00:37:40.260
 that is just

00:37:40.260 --> 00:37:41.380
 one more case

00:37:41.380 --> 00:37:43.300
 that in fact

00:37:43.300 --> 00:37:44.380
 all life

00:37:44.380 --> 00:37:45.119
 is tragedy.

00:37:45.820 --> 00:37:46.440
 All life

00:37:46.440 --> 00:37:47.059
 is tragedy.

00:37:47.539 --> 00:37:48.160
 When you die,

00:37:48.280 --> 00:37:48.740
 you die.

00:37:49.539 --> 00:37:50.280
 And some people

00:37:50.280 --> 00:37:50.900
 die young,

00:37:51.039 --> 00:37:52.059
 some people die old,

00:37:52.140 --> 00:37:52.960
 but when you die,

00:37:53.140 --> 00:37:53.640
 you die.

00:37:53.720 --> 00:37:54.740
 And you lose everything.

00:37:55.640 --> 00:37:56.880
 And you can't even hope

00:37:56.880 --> 00:37:57.800
 that you'll be remembered

00:37:57.800 --> 00:37:58.539
 for very long.

00:37:58.660 --> 00:37:59.380
 Conan O'Brien

00:37:59.380 --> 00:38:01.240
 has this very interesting thing

00:38:01.240 --> 00:38:02.160
 where he realizes

00:38:02.160 --> 00:38:02.840
 one day

00:38:02.840 --> 00:38:03.800
 that

00:38:03.800 --> 00:38:06.760
 he won't be remembered

00:38:06.760 --> 00:38:07.460
 very long.

00:38:07.460 --> 00:38:09.720
 within a certain period

00:38:09.720 --> 00:38:10.039
 of time,

00:38:10.119 --> 00:38:11.059
 nobody remembers you

00:38:11.059 --> 00:38:11.720
 that long

00:38:11.720 --> 00:38:12.840
 and you'll be completely

00:38:12.840 --> 00:38:13.800
 and utterly forgotten

00:38:13.800 --> 00:38:14.539
 and when you die,

00:38:14.639 --> 00:38:14.920
 you die.

00:38:15.179 --> 00:38:16.019
 That's just the way

00:38:16.019 --> 00:38:16.559
 life is.

00:38:16.679 --> 00:38:17.920
 It's all life a tragedy.

00:38:19.300 --> 00:38:20.300
 But the fact of the matter

00:38:20.300 --> 00:38:21.659
 is that we human beings,

00:38:21.760 --> 00:38:22.920
 we don't like tragedies.

00:38:23.059 --> 00:38:23.940
 Movies that are made

00:38:23.940 --> 00:38:25.039
 where everything ends

00:38:25.039 --> 00:38:26.500
 with the bad guys win,

00:38:26.940 --> 00:38:28.599
 the good guys all die,

00:38:29.039 --> 00:38:30.119
 those movies don't go

00:38:30.119 --> 00:38:30.599
 very well

00:38:30.599 --> 00:38:32.199
 at the box office.

00:38:32.340 --> 00:38:33.000
 On one hand,

00:38:33.159 --> 00:38:33.659
 science

00:38:33.659 --> 00:38:35.240
 and serious philosophy

00:38:35.239 --> 00:38:35.939
 tells you

00:38:35.939 --> 00:38:37.859
 that it's all just tragedy,

00:38:38.359 --> 00:38:39.079
 that in fact,

00:38:40.299 --> 00:38:40.679
 you know,

00:38:40.779 --> 00:38:41.459
 the fact of the matter

00:38:41.459 --> 00:38:42.599
 is in the real world,

00:38:42.739 --> 00:38:44.299
 Idi Amin did horrendous things

00:38:44.299 --> 00:38:45.099
 in Uganda,

00:38:45.199 --> 00:38:46.299
 but he died a rich man

00:38:46.299 --> 00:38:47.159
 in another country.

00:38:47.619 --> 00:38:49.279
 Stalin did horrendous things,

00:38:49.379 --> 00:38:50.099
 but he dies

00:38:50.099 --> 00:38:51.259
 in his bed.

00:38:52.239 --> 00:38:52.500
 Yeah,

00:38:52.559 --> 00:38:53.779
 you have Hitler who died,

00:38:53.879 --> 00:38:54.219
 but you know,

00:38:54.279 --> 00:38:55.599
 lots and lots of times,

00:38:55.719 --> 00:38:57.019
 horrendously evil people

00:38:57.019 --> 00:38:58.539
 die natural deaths,

00:38:59.019 --> 00:39:00.319
 not facing any type

00:39:00.319 --> 00:39:00.759
 of judgment

00:39:00.759 --> 00:39:02.099
 and that's the real world

00:39:02.099 --> 00:39:02.879
 and the fact of the matter

00:39:02.879 --> 00:39:03.819
 is even for them,

00:39:03.819 --> 00:39:04.699
 when you die,

00:39:04.819 --> 00:39:05.219
 you die.

00:39:05.339 --> 00:39:06.239
 But the fact of the matter

00:39:06.239 --> 00:39:07.659
 is that what we,

00:39:07.859 --> 00:39:09.119
 the movies that do well

00:39:09.119 --> 00:39:10.059
 end with a wedding.

00:39:11.039 --> 00:39:12.139
 They end with applause.

00:39:12.619 --> 00:39:13.779
 They end with justice.

00:39:15.299 --> 00:39:15.779
 Triumphing

00:39:15.779 --> 00:39:16.719
 and being reestablished.

00:39:16.819 --> 00:39:17.599
 That's the movies

00:39:17.599 --> 00:39:18.759
 that we actually watch.

00:39:19.039 --> 00:39:19.819
 It's the movies

00:39:19.819 --> 00:39:21.039
 that serious thinkers

00:39:21.039 --> 00:39:22.459
 say are fairy tales.

00:39:23.659 --> 00:39:25.439
 And what we're to see here

00:39:25.439 --> 00:39:26.879
 is that fairy tale

00:39:26.879 --> 00:39:27.979
 has become fact.

00:39:28.819 --> 00:39:29.599
 That myth

00:39:29.599 --> 00:39:30.979
 has become fact.

00:39:31.859 --> 00:39:33.119
 And that's what God

00:39:33.119 --> 00:39:33.979
 wants us to understand.

00:39:34.059 --> 00:39:34.699
 The only reason

00:39:34.699 --> 00:39:35.539
 we can believe this,

00:39:35.659 --> 00:39:35.960
 of course,

00:39:36.039 --> 00:39:36.759
 is that as we'll see

00:39:36.759 --> 00:39:37.279
 next week,

00:39:37.359 --> 00:39:38.579
 that Jesus really rises

00:39:38.579 --> 00:39:39.139
 from the dead.

00:39:39.199 --> 00:39:40.159
 If he didn't rise

00:39:40.159 --> 00:39:40.719
 from the dead,

00:39:41.259 --> 00:39:41.859
 then in fact,

00:39:41.960 --> 00:39:43.139
 all life is tragedy.

00:39:43.239 --> 00:39:44.139
 It is not comedy.

00:39:44.539 --> 00:39:45.659
 All life is tragedy.

00:39:45.659 --> 00:39:46.679
 But if in fact,

00:39:46.759 --> 00:39:47.960
 he rises from the dead,

00:39:47.960 --> 00:39:49.639
 that makes this particular death

00:39:49.639 --> 00:39:50.759
 and the fulfillment

00:39:50.759 --> 00:39:53.039
 inherent in all of his life

00:39:53.039 --> 00:39:53.900
 and in his death

00:39:53.900 --> 00:39:54.859
 and in his resurrection,

00:39:54.859 --> 00:39:56.219
 it means there is a God

00:39:56.219 --> 00:39:56.980
 that does exist.

00:39:57.339 --> 00:39:58.799
 There can be purpose in life.

00:39:58.900 --> 00:40:00.259
 There can be meaning in life.

00:40:00.579 --> 00:40:01.920
 And it means that,

00:40:02.019 --> 00:40:02.460
 in fact,

00:40:02.599 --> 00:40:03.619
 death does not have

00:40:03.619 --> 00:40:04.599
 the final word.

00:40:05.379 --> 00:40:06.500
 That the myths

00:40:06.500 --> 00:40:07.679
 and the fairy tales

00:40:07.679 --> 00:40:09.379
 which we long for

00:40:09.379 --> 00:40:11.159
 once became fact.

00:40:12.199 --> 00:40:13.319
 And that means

00:40:13.319 --> 00:40:15.019
 there is the possibility

00:40:15.019 --> 00:40:16.339
 that in your life and mine,

00:40:16.539 --> 00:40:17.199
 life is not,

00:40:17.199 --> 00:40:18.739
 death is not the final word.

00:40:19.279 --> 00:40:20.079
 Injustice is not

00:40:20.079 --> 00:40:21.000
 the final word.

00:40:21.679 --> 00:40:22.519
 This decomposition

00:40:22.519 --> 00:40:23.839
 is not the final word,

00:40:23.919 --> 00:40:25.119
 but the final word is life.

00:40:26.199 --> 00:40:26.480
 You see,

00:40:26.539 --> 00:40:27.460
 this is all part of,

00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:28.099
 if you go back

00:40:28.099 --> 00:40:28.960
 and you read the beginning

00:40:28.960 --> 00:40:29.939
 of John's Gospel,

00:40:30.039 --> 00:40:31.179
 the beginning of John's Gospel

00:40:31.179 --> 00:40:32.059
 begins like this.

00:40:32.139 --> 00:40:33.299
 In the beginning was the Word

00:40:33.299 --> 00:40:35.239
 and the Word was with God

00:40:35.239 --> 00:40:36.439
 and the Word was God.

00:40:36.539 --> 00:40:37.239
 He was with God

00:40:37.239 --> 00:40:37.699
 in the beginning.

00:40:37.919 --> 00:40:39.019
 All things were made

00:40:39.019 --> 00:40:39.659
 through him

00:40:39.659 --> 00:40:40.539
 and without him

00:40:40.539 --> 00:40:41.460
 nothing was made

00:40:41.460 --> 00:40:42.279
 that was made.

00:40:42.399 --> 00:40:43.719
 In him was life

00:40:43.719 --> 00:40:45.239
 and the life

00:40:45.239 --> 00:40:46.460
 was the light of men.

00:40:46.460 --> 00:40:47.659
 That's the first five verses

00:40:47.659 --> 00:40:48.639
 in John's Gospel.

00:40:49.079 --> 00:40:49.639
 And so you see,

00:40:49.720 --> 00:40:50.440
 what we see here

00:40:50.440 --> 00:40:51.360
 in John's Gospel

00:40:51.360 --> 00:40:52.400
 is John is telling

00:40:52.400 --> 00:40:54.619
 not only the story of Jesus,

00:40:54.800 --> 00:40:55.760
 but he's telling the story

00:40:55.760 --> 00:40:56.280
 of Jesus

00:40:56.280 --> 00:40:57.059
 in combination

00:40:57.059 --> 00:40:58.699
 with a far bigger story.

00:40:58.840 --> 00:41:00.199
 And in that bigger story,

00:41:00.579 --> 00:41:01.900
 John is saying this,

00:41:02.260 --> 00:41:03.159
 that what caused

00:41:03.159 --> 00:41:04.119
 all things to be,

00:41:04.300 --> 00:41:06.440
 all things that exist

00:41:06.440 --> 00:41:07.199
 were created

00:41:07.199 --> 00:41:08.139
 by a combination

00:41:08.139 --> 00:41:08.960
 of life,

00:41:10.000 --> 00:41:10.400
 light,

00:41:10.820 --> 00:41:11.519
 and love.

00:41:13.420 --> 00:41:13.900
 Life,

00:41:14.500 --> 00:41:14.820
 light,

00:41:14.940 --> 00:41:15.579
 and love.

00:41:15.579 --> 00:41:16.920
 That is the source

00:41:16.920 --> 00:41:17.719
 of all things

00:41:17.719 --> 00:41:18.340
 that exist.

00:41:19.259 --> 00:41:20.159
 But human beings

00:41:20.159 --> 00:41:21.739
 turned away from God

00:41:21.739 --> 00:41:22.840
 to be God themselves.

00:41:23.279 --> 00:41:23.940
 And what happens

00:41:23.940 --> 00:41:24.579
 when you turn away

00:41:24.579 --> 00:41:25.279
 from life?

00:41:25.880 --> 00:41:27.519
 You walk towards death.

00:41:27.739 --> 00:41:28.400
 What happens

00:41:28.400 --> 00:41:29.039
 when you turn away

00:41:29.039 --> 00:41:29.739
 from light?

00:41:30.099 --> 00:41:31.819
 You walk towards darkness.

00:41:32.279 --> 00:41:32.980
 What happens

00:41:32.980 --> 00:41:33.679
 when you turn away

00:41:33.679 --> 00:41:34.400
 from love?

00:41:35.099 --> 00:41:36.679
 You turn towards

00:41:36.679 --> 00:41:37.299
 indifference

00:41:37.299 --> 00:41:37.960
 and hatred.

00:41:39.619 --> 00:41:41.159
 And human beings

00:41:41.159 --> 00:41:42.460
 become addicted

00:41:42.460 --> 00:41:44.740
 to turning towards death

00:41:44.740 --> 00:41:46.380
 and turning towards darkness

00:41:46.380 --> 00:41:48.579
 and turning towards

00:41:48.579 --> 00:41:50.940
 hatred and indifference.

00:41:51.880 --> 00:41:52.699
 And so God,

00:41:52.800 --> 00:41:53.860
 the Son of God,

00:41:54.619 --> 00:41:56.400
 comes and dwells

00:41:56.400 --> 00:41:57.559
 among us

00:41:57.559 --> 00:41:59.440
 as one of us.

00:41:59.599 --> 00:42:00.840
 The light of the world

00:42:00.840 --> 00:42:02.380
 walks amongst those

00:42:02.380 --> 00:42:03.720
 who love darkness.

00:42:04.199 --> 00:42:05.579
 The life of the world

00:42:05.579 --> 00:42:07.119
 comes amongst those

00:42:07.119 --> 00:42:08.199
 who will die

00:42:08.199 --> 00:42:09.679
 and go towards death

00:42:09.679 --> 00:42:11.220
 and even choose death.

00:42:11.219 --> 00:42:12.619
 And the love

00:42:12.619 --> 00:42:13.319
 of the world

00:42:13.319 --> 00:42:14.459
 comes and walks

00:42:14.459 --> 00:42:15.199
 amongst those

00:42:15.199 --> 00:42:15.859
 who choose

00:42:15.859 --> 00:42:16.980
 indifference

00:42:16.980 --> 00:42:17.959
 and hatred.

00:42:18.379 --> 00:42:19.859
 And he doesn't just come

00:42:19.859 --> 00:42:20.719
 as a tourist

00:42:20.719 --> 00:42:21.559
 to observe,

00:42:22.000 --> 00:42:22.919
 but his comes

00:42:22.919 --> 00:42:23.719
 amongst us

00:42:23.719 --> 00:42:24.679
 even to the point

00:42:24.679 --> 00:42:25.779
 that life

00:42:25.779 --> 00:42:26.779
 takes on

00:42:26.779 --> 00:42:27.719
 my death

00:42:27.719 --> 00:42:28.219
 and yours.

00:42:28.859 --> 00:42:29.379
 Light

00:42:29.379 --> 00:42:30.219
 takes on

00:42:30.219 --> 00:42:31.079
 my darkness

00:42:31.079 --> 00:42:32.219
 and yours.

00:42:32.759 --> 00:42:33.199
 Love

00:42:33.199 --> 00:42:34.019
 takes on

00:42:34.019 --> 00:42:35.019
 my indifference

00:42:35.019 --> 00:42:35.659
 and hatred

00:42:35.659 --> 00:42:36.859
 and yours.

00:42:37.339 --> 00:42:37.939
 And he,

00:42:38.199 --> 00:42:38.519
 light,

00:42:38.839 --> 00:42:39.899
 bears the darkness.

00:42:40.239 --> 00:42:40.619
 Love

00:42:40.619 --> 00:42:41.819
 bears the hatred.

00:42:43.179 --> 00:42:43.719
 Life

00:42:43.719 --> 00:42:44.679
 bears death.

00:42:46.679 --> 00:42:47.799
 That's the importance

00:42:47.799 --> 00:42:49.139
 of this tiny phrase,

00:42:49.440 --> 00:42:50.099
 I thirst.

00:42:51.539 --> 00:42:52.440
 I thirst.

00:42:53.079 --> 00:42:53.799
 Because Jesus

00:42:53.799 --> 00:42:54.719
 is described

00:42:54.719 --> 00:42:55.839
 earlier as

00:42:55.839 --> 00:42:57.420
 living water,

00:42:57.619 --> 00:42:58.420
 as the life

00:42:58.420 --> 00:42:59.319
 of the world.

00:42:59.859 --> 00:43:01.099
 And he thirsts.

00:43:01.159 --> 00:43:02.000
 He is taking

00:43:02.000 --> 00:43:03.179
 the darkness,

00:43:03.759 --> 00:43:04.519
 the death,

00:43:04.719 --> 00:43:05.719
 and the hatred

00:43:05.719 --> 00:43:06.960
 into himself

00:43:06.960 --> 00:43:08.119
 in a sense

00:43:08.119 --> 00:43:09.340
 swallowing

00:43:09.340 --> 00:43:09.900
 and dealing

00:43:09.900 --> 00:43:10.519
 with that

00:43:10.519 --> 00:43:11.340
 which we cannot

00:43:11.340 --> 00:43:11.940
 deal with

00:43:11.940 --> 00:43:12.539
 ourselves.

00:43:12.820 --> 00:43:13.619
 And he arises,

00:43:13.880 --> 00:43:14.420
 as we will see

00:43:14.420 --> 00:43:15.320
 on Easter Sunday,

00:43:15.720 --> 00:43:16.440
 that life

00:43:16.440 --> 00:43:17.480
 conquers

00:43:17.480 --> 00:43:18.139
 death.

00:43:18.780 --> 00:43:19.179
 Love

00:43:19.179 --> 00:43:20.139
 conquers

00:43:20.139 --> 00:43:20.699
 hatred

00:43:20.699 --> 00:43:21.880
 and indifference.

00:43:24.059 --> 00:43:24.599
 Light

00:43:24.599 --> 00:43:25.780
 triumphs

00:43:25.780 --> 00:43:26.260
 over

00:43:26.260 --> 00:43:27.059
 darkness.

00:43:27.599 --> 00:43:28.260
 And he does it

00:43:28.260 --> 00:43:29.000
 for you and me.

00:43:29.000 --> 00:43:33.059
 that when we put

00:43:33.059 --> 00:43:33.420
 our faith

00:43:33.420 --> 00:43:33.900
 and trust

00:43:33.900 --> 00:43:34.460
 in him,

00:43:34.860 --> 00:43:36.280
 we are sharing

00:43:36.280 --> 00:43:37.260
 in his conquest

00:43:37.260 --> 00:43:38.099
 for us.

00:43:39.679 --> 00:43:40.679
 Please stand.

00:43:40.679 --> 00:43:41.000
 Thank you.

00:43:41.559 --> 00:43:41.900
 Thank you.

00:43:41.900 --> 00:43:55.660
 Let's pray.

00:44:00.440 --> 00:44:02.700
 Father, we give you thanks and praise for Jesus,

00:44:02.920 --> 00:44:06.619
 and we thank and praise you that when he dealt with death,

00:44:06.800 --> 00:44:08.800
 he dealt with it, it was finished.

00:44:09.500 --> 00:44:14.140
 We give you thanks and praise that when he dealt with darkness, it was finished.

00:44:14.440 --> 00:44:19.740
 We give you thanks and praise that when he dealt with hatred and indifference, it was finished.

00:44:20.980 --> 00:44:25.320
 And we thank and praise you, Father, that when we put our faith and trust in Jesus,

00:44:25.519 --> 00:44:29.340
 that we share in his finished work over those things.

00:44:29.740 --> 00:44:33.200
 We give you thanks and praise that when we put our faith and trust in Jesus,

00:44:33.200 --> 00:44:35.400
 our destiny, Father, is sure.

00:44:38.800 --> 00:44:42.140
 That the light is our destiny.

00:44:42.880 --> 00:44:44.240
 That love is our destiny.

00:44:44.400 --> 00:44:45.680
 That life is our destiny.

00:44:46.480 --> 00:44:52.420
 Father, on this side of the grave, we still have so many things within us that are addicted to darkness

00:44:52.420 --> 00:44:58.460
 and addicted to death and addicted to a difference and addicted to hatred.

00:44:58.460 --> 00:45:02.860
 We give you thanks and praise, Father, that the work of Jesus, it is finished.

00:45:02.920 --> 00:45:04.139
 It is finished for us.

00:45:04.300 --> 00:45:08.720
 That when we put our faith in him, the final word will not be those things of hatred.

00:45:09.199 --> 00:45:11.139
 But, Father, you know how much we struggle now.

00:45:11.179 --> 00:45:13.059
 And we ask that you grip us with the gospel.

00:45:13.300 --> 00:45:17.460
 Grip us, Father, with the triumph of life and light and love.

00:45:17.460 --> 00:45:26.519
 And so help us to be confident in his finished work that with Jesus we might have the confidence and the humility

00:45:26.519 --> 00:45:30.940
 to look at the darkness and death and hatred and indifference in our own lives.

00:45:30.940 --> 00:45:34.760
 And as we are gripped by the gospel to deal with it.

00:45:34.760 --> 00:45:43.300
 That you might give us such a confidence in the finished work of Jesus that we might not only look at the death and darkness and hatred and indifference of our own lives,

00:45:43.460 --> 00:45:50.800
 but of our families, of our places of work, of our city, of our country, and of our world.

00:45:50.800 --> 00:45:56.460
 And that you might use us, Father, to walk towards that, to share the gospel.

00:45:59.160 --> 00:46:06.200
 And be used by you to lessen the darkness and lessen the death and lessen the hatred and lessen the indifference.

00:46:06.680 --> 00:46:11.460
 As we are used by you to bless the city and bless the world to your great glory.

00:46:12.160 --> 00:46:15.120
 And, Father, we ask that you would do these mighty works in our lives.

00:46:17.260 --> 00:46:18.580
 Imperfect people as we are.

00:46:18.579 --> 00:46:24.460
 May your Holy Spirit move with might and power within us to make us disciples of Jesus' grip by the gospel.

00:46:24.960 --> 00:46:26.219
 Learning to live for your glory.

00:46:26.360 --> 00:46:29.219
 And we ask these things in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior.

00:46:29.819 --> 00:46:30.159
 Amen.