WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.480 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:09.560 Our passion is to experience and express grace. 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:10.620 Join us. 00:00:12.980 --> 00:00:17.839 It's our privilege to have with us this morning Dr. Thurman Williams. 00:00:18.820 --> 00:00:24.679 Thurman has been a PCA pastor for many years in Baltimore, in St. Louis. 00:00:24.679 --> 00:00:32.659 Now he's planting a church there in St. Louis in the neighborhood that they live in and is excited about that. 00:00:32.740 --> 00:00:34.560 It's New City Fellowship West End. 00:00:35.539 --> 00:00:37.619 We're excited to have him here this morning. 00:00:37.740 --> 00:00:43.260 He wasn't able to bring his wife and four kids with him, but loves them. 00:00:43.780 --> 00:00:46.840 And he had a particular request of us this week. 00:00:46.899 --> 00:00:50.399 He wanted to know where the location of the Amen section was. 00:00:50.399 --> 00:00:56.320 I informed him the whole place would do a great job with that, so don't let me down. 00:00:57.100 --> 00:00:57.839 Thurman, welcome. 00:00:57.960 --> 00:00:59.839 We're glad you're here to preach God's word to us. 00:01:04.060 --> 00:01:04.759 Thank you, Ben. 00:01:06.579 --> 00:01:11.920 Well, good morning, Southwood. 00:01:13.780 --> 00:01:17.539 Thank you all so much for your welcome, for your hospitality. 00:01:17.540 --> 00:01:20.920 Thank you, Pastor Will, for sharing the pulpit. 00:01:21.060 --> 00:01:24.320 Thank you, Community Development Committee, for inviting me. 00:01:24.820 --> 00:01:28.000 I am proud to say I am a friend of Robert and Deneen Blevins. 00:01:28.500 --> 00:01:32.840 They are a precious treasure that God has brought to this church. 00:01:33.300 --> 00:01:36.160 And I'm thankful for their inviting me here. 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:39.240 If you have a Bible, please open with me to Luke chapter 7. 00:01:40.880 --> 00:01:44.300 Luke chapter 7, and we'll be in verses 18 to 23. 00:01:44.299 --> 00:01:53.840 And we want to talk around the theme for just a few moments of what I call having church. 00:01:55.000 --> 00:01:57.659 Having church, and I'll explain that in a few moments. 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:05.159 Just to set the context before I read the passage, if you go all the way back to Luke chapter 4, 00:02:05.679 --> 00:02:10.319 which at least in the Gospel of Luke is where we find Jesus' first sermon. 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:14.019 And he quotes from Isaiah 61, where he says, 00:02:14.139 --> 00:02:17.560 The Spirit of the Lord is on me to preach good news to the poor, 00:02:17.879 --> 00:02:21.719 and recovery of sight to the blind, and freedom for the prisoner, 00:02:21.859 --> 00:02:26.759 and release for the oppressed, and to declare the year of the Lord's favor. 00:02:27.699 --> 00:02:30.500 And then he sits down, and before he does, he says, 00:02:30.579 --> 00:02:34.740 This scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing, because I'm here. 00:02:34.740 --> 00:02:40.640 And then what he sets out to do, if you read in the chapters between that one and the one we're going to look at today, 00:02:40.760 --> 00:02:42.920 is he starts to do those very things. 00:02:43.400 --> 00:02:44.939 He preaches good news to the poor. 00:02:45.340 --> 00:02:47.740 He gives sight to the blind. 00:02:47.860 --> 00:02:49.300 He heals the lame. 00:02:49.379 --> 00:02:51.260 He preaches the word of God. 00:02:52.040 --> 00:02:54.640 And then we come here to verse 18. 00:02:56.100 --> 00:02:58.120 Hear now the reading of God's word. 00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:28.020 In that hour. 00:03:28.120 --> 00:03:32.539 He healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits. 00:03:33.020 --> 00:03:35.800 And on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 00:03:36.780 --> 00:03:37.719 And he answered them, 00:03:38.140 --> 00:03:41.680 Go and tell John what you have seen and heard. 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:44.259 The blind receive their sight. 00:03:44.900 --> 00:03:45.900 The lame walk. 00:03:46.340 --> 00:03:47.840 Lepers are cleansed. 00:03:48.080 --> 00:03:49.240 The deaf hear. 00:03:49.780 --> 00:03:51.159 The dead are raised up. 00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:53.520 The poor have good news preached to them. 00:03:53.520 --> 00:03:58.240 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me. 00:03:58.740 --> 00:04:00.060 This is God's word. 00:04:01.160 --> 00:04:02.879 Let's open together with the word of prayer. 00:04:02.879 --> 00:04:08.859 Father, we are so grateful for the time you've given us already this morning. 00:04:09.539 --> 00:04:11.740 And Lord, now we thank you for your word. 00:04:12.539 --> 00:04:14.659 Lord, your word testifies about itself. 00:04:15.099 --> 00:04:16.379 That is God-breathed. 00:04:16.959 --> 00:04:22.199 And it's useful for teaching and rebuking and correcting and training in righteousness. 00:04:22.199 --> 00:04:28.979 So Lord, we pray that you would work in us towards those ends in the time that we have together this morning. 00:04:29.620 --> 00:04:32.199 Holy Spirit, we pray that you would fill this place. 00:04:32.740 --> 00:04:33.800 Fill us with your power. 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:35.259 Fill us with your presence. 00:04:36.199 --> 00:04:42.759 Because Lord, we confess that we cannot understand these words unless your spirit illumine our understanding. 00:04:43.480 --> 00:04:46.439 And Lord, we certainly don't have power to live them out. 00:04:46.980 --> 00:04:50.019 Unless you fill us with your spirit so that we might do so. 00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:51.819 And that's what we're asking. 00:04:52.399 --> 00:04:56.800 We don't just want to be hearers of the word, but we also want to be doers of the word. 00:04:57.300 --> 00:05:00.480 So Holy Spirit, we pray that you'd fill us and empower us to do so. 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:02.920 And we ask you to do all this for your glory. 00:05:02.920 --> 00:05:04.960 And all this we ask in Jesus' name. 00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:07.319 And all God's people said, Amen. 00:05:09.259 --> 00:05:14.080 Having church is a phrase that I would hear oftentimes when I was growing up. 00:05:14.120 --> 00:05:14.960 I grew up in the church. 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:17.000 My dad was a minister, actually. 00:05:17.100 --> 00:05:20.220 And so we grew up in primarily the African-American church. 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:23.360 And actually when people would say it there, they would take the R out. 00:05:23.420 --> 00:05:24.840 It wasn't just having church. 00:05:24.980 --> 00:05:27.120 It was having church is how they would say it. 00:05:27.819 --> 00:05:29.120 And what did that mean? 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:35.600 And usually what it meant in that context is it meant that the music was really incredible and lively. 00:05:35.740 --> 00:05:37.480 And the choir was singing well. 00:05:37.560 --> 00:05:39.699 And people were jumping up and dancing. 00:05:39.840 --> 00:05:42.300 And my father was preaching very powerfully. 00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:43.280 And people would leave. 00:05:43.340 --> 00:05:45.579 And they would say, Oh, we had church today. 00:05:46.740 --> 00:05:48.100 But I had my own definition. 00:05:48.980 --> 00:05:51.540 I was a big football fan of the Sunday football. 00:05:51.660 --> 00:05:54.300 I know we're Saturday football fans primarily here. 00:05:54.300 --> 00:06:00.639 But for me, if we got out of church before 1 o'clock and got home, oh, we had church that day. 00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:04.139 But if we got out after, oh, no. 00:06:04.259 --> 00:06:05.420 Oh, it was just terrible. 00:06:06.060 --> 00:06:14.580 And I could tell when we were heading that direction because I could tell when my father would get excited as he's preaching because he would start to quote songs in the sermon. 00:06:15.220 --> 00:06:16.740 And then I'm like, Oh, Lord, here we go. 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:18.840 He would say, Bread of heaven, bread of heaven. 00:06:19.420 --> 00:06:21.180 Feed me till I want no more. 00:06:21.560 --> 00:06:22.600 And I'd say, I'm full. 00:06:22.600 --> 00:06:24.520 I just want to go home and see the game. 00:06:25.700 --> 00:06:29.540 Or he'd say, Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. 00:06:29.820 --> 00:06:32.600 And I would say to myself, We're going to be here till 1.30 today. 00:06:33.700 --> 00:06:35.160 This is not having church. 00:06:36.320 --> 00:06:38.080 But what does it look like for us? 00:06:38.600 --> 00:06:40.840 What does it look like for us to have church? 00:06:40.980 --> 00:06:45.420 Now, obviously, I know that church is not something that we have. 00:06:46.080 --> 00:06:49.740 The church is something and someone who we are. 00:06:49.740 --> 00:06:56.280 But what does it mean to be who we are in this time and place as the church? 00:06:56.720 --> 00:07:00.720 What does it look like in real life to have church? 00:07:01.060 --> 00:07:03.900 How do we live out what it means to be who we are? 00:07:04.300 --> 00:07:05.379 That's what we want to look at. 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:08.939 And so how does this passage in Luke 7 help us today? 00:07:08.939 --> 00:07:12.740 It does so by showing us three things really important. 00:07:12.860 --> 00:07:14.899 It shows us the perspective of Jesus. 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:17.980 It shows us the presence of Jesus. 00:07:18.759 --> 00:07:21.160 And then lastly, it will show us the power of Jesus. 00:07:21.480 --> 00:07:21.740 All right? 00:07:21.819 --> 00:07:23.399 So let's look at those in turn. 00:07:23.800 --> 00:07:26.139 First, the perspective of Jesus. 00:07:26.579 --> 00:07:28.680 We find right at the beginning of this passage. 00:07:29.279 --> 00:07:32.120 And John needed Jesus' perspective on a couple things. 00:07:32.579 --> 00:07:35.160 The first is on his expectations. 00:07:36.139 --> 00:07:39.019 He needed Jesus' perspective on his expectations. 00:07:39.180 --> 00:07:39.740 What do I mean? 00:07:40.379 --> 00:07:46.300 If we come and look at verse 19, we find here in the passage, it says that he called two 00:07:46.300 --> 00:07:47.500 of his disciples to him. 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:52.740 And John sent them to the Lord with the question, are you the one who is to come? 00:07:53.259 --> 00:07:54.860 Or shall we look for another? 00:07:55.660 --> 00:08:00.939 And then verse 20, and when the men had come to him, they said, and they repeat the question. 00:08:00.939 --> 00:08:06.139 And so the author, Luke, is telling you this is something that's very important that you've 00:08:06.139 --> 00:08:07.680 got to pay attention to. 00:08:08.219 --> 00:08:13.800 This is something he wants his readers to know because he's telling them who Jesus is. 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:18.060 And so they repeat the question, are you the one who is to come? 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:20.040 Or shall we look for another? 00:08:20.899 --> 00:08:23.720 Now what does that mean, the one who is to come? 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:30.079 It means the Messiah, the anointed one, the one who is to come and set things right. 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:35.899 The one who is to come and bring the salvation that everybody has looked forward to and longed 00:08:35.899 --> 00:08:36.079 for. 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:37.480 Are you the one who is to come? 00:08:38.019 --> 00:08:41.299 Now, what's unusual about that question? 00:08:42.740 --> 00:08:45.019 What's unusual is that John is asking this. 00:08:45.559 --> 00:08:51.340 Because if you go back just a few chapters earlier in chapter 3, in verse 15, John is 00:08:51.340 --> 00:08:54.500 telling everybody that Jesus is the one who is to come. 00:08:54.500 --> 00:09:00.899 As the people were in expectation, this is verse 15 of Luke 3, and all were questioning 00:09:00.899 --> 00:09:05.820 in their hearts concerning John whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all 00:09:05.820 --> 00:09:08.080 saying, I baptize with water. 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:10.919 But he who is mightier than I is coming. 00:09:11.500 --> 00:09:14.720 The strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. 00:09:15.460 --> 00:09:19.519 He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:21.840 And so, what happened? 00:09:22.740 --> 00:09:24.120 What's changed? 00:09:24.419 --> 00:09:29.759 Why now is John questioning the fact that Jesus is the one or not? 00:09:30.439 --> 00:09:36.079 Well, if you go back to Luke 7 in verse 18, the very beginning, it says, the disciples 00:09:36.079 --> 00:09:41.120 of John reported, and then the phrase, all these things to him. 00:09:41.179 --> 00:09:42.319 What are all those things? 00:09:43.059 --> 00:09:47.139 Well, again, think about what's happened since Jesus' sermon back in Luke 4. 00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:48.860 What has Jesus been up to? 00:09:48.860 --> 00:09:54.180 He's been preaching about the kingdom of God and the upside down values of the kingdom. 00:09:54.840 --> 00:09:57.440 But not only that, he's been raising the dead. 00:09:57.539 --> 00:09:58.840 That happens in chapter 7. 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:00.700 He's been healing servants. 00:10:00.840 --> 00:10:02.539 He's been casting out demons. 00:10:02.700 --> 00:10:04.639 He heals Peter's mother-in-law. 00:10:05.180 --> 00:10:07.180 He's doing all these amazing things. 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:09.180 And so you say, well, what's the problem, John? 00:10:09.960 --> 00:10:13.460 Well, that's not what John expected Jesus to be doing. 00:10:14.440 --> 00:10:15.700 He had different expectations. 00:10:15.700 --> 00:10:19.400 If we go back to Luke 3 very quickly, verse 17. 00:10:23.400 --> 00:10:29.400 It says, his winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the 00:10:29.400 --> 00:10:30.520 wheat into his barn. 00:10:31.040 --> 00:10:33.700 But the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. 00:10:33.700 --> 00:10:39.520 What John was saying and what he was expecting is that when Jesus showed up, he would bring 00:10:39.520 --> 00:10:44.480 not only the grace and the salvation, but his judgment to at the very same time. 00:10:45.200 --> 00:10:48.620 And so he's looking around at all the things that Jesus is doing. 00:10:48.700 --> 00:10:50.300 And he said, Jesus, where's the fire? 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:52.300 Where's the rain? 00:10:52.299 --> 00:10:56.659 You're supposed to come and make things right now. 00:10:57.199 --> 00:10:58.659 That was his expectation. 00:10:59.459 --> 00:11:04.939 And he looks at all the things that Jesus is doing and he says, you're not doing what 00:11:04.939 --> 00:11:05.919 you're supposed to do. 00:11:06.459 --> 00:11:09.079 So are you the one who was to come or not? 00:11:10.259 --> 00:11:13.219 So he needed Jesus' perspective on his expectations. 00:11:13.220 --> 00:11:18.820 But not only that, he needed Jesus' perspective on his own suffering. 00:11:19.759 --> 00:11:22.220 He needed Jesus' perspective on his own suffering. 00:11:22.860 --> 00:11:23.420 What do I mean? 00:11:23.540 --> 00:11:28.080 Well, why was it that John had to send his disciples to go ask Jesus? 00:11:28.840 --> 00:11:30.960 How come he didn't go ask him himself? 00:11:32.019 --> 00:11:35.879 Again, if you go back to Luke 3 and verse 19. 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:44.700 It says, but Herod the Tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's 00:11:44.700 --> 00:11:50.220 wife, for all the evil things that Herod had done, he added this to them all, that he locked 00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:52.139 John up in prison. 00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:59.279 And so John is there in prison and he's wondering, are you the one to come or not? 00:11:59.879 --> 00:12:01.379 Where is the justice? 00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:03.360 Where is the judgment? 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:09.600 I did what you've called me to do and it ends up getting me locked away in prison. 00:12:11.080 --> 00:12:12.720 Do you know what John felt like? 00:12:13.899 --> 00:12:17.879 Have you ever been in that place where you've been doing all the things that you believe 00:12:17.879 --> 00:12:21.240 God has called you to do and your life still falls apart? 00:12:22.700 --> 00:12:24.940 You're going, God, I'm doing what you wanted me to do. 00:12:25.860 --> 00:12:26.800 Where's the judgment? 00:12:27.000 --> 00:12:27.759 Where's the fire? 00:12:28.200 --> 00:12:28.920 Where's the rain? 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:31.800 It seems that evil is continuing to succeed. 00:12:31.799 --> 00:12:36.120 Why are we suffering the way that we are? 00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:40.019 I know that you as a congregation are suffering this week. 00:12:40.539 --> 00:12:44.179 The loss of people that you love dearly that are part of this body. 00:12:45.339 --> 00:12:46.799 And maybe you're excited for them. 00:12:46.939 --> 00:12:49.219 You're like, great, they get to be in the presence of the Lord. 00:12:49.319 --> 00:12:51.879 But Lord, I wasn't ready. 00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:53.879 I'm hurting. 00:12:53.980 --> 00:12:54.460 I'm in pain. 00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:57.879 Why do we live in this world with so much pain? 00:12:58.439 --> 00:13:02.799 Are you the one who is to come or are you not? 00:13:03.379 --> 00:13:05.899 Should we expect somebody else? 00:13:06.439 --> 00:13:09.200 Well, what difference does it make that Jesus is the one who was to come? 00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:11.480 He's the Lord of life. 00:13:12.340 --> 00:13:14.080 And he's the Lord of our lives. 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:16.000 And so you know what that means. 00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:18.220 It means that we can trust him. 00:13:18.700 --> 00:13:20.420 Even in the midst of our suffering. 00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:23.180 It means that we can trust him. 00:13:23.340 --> 00:13:27.040 Even if he's not fulfilling the expectations we have for him. 00:13:27.280 --> 00:13:28.960 And when he's supposed to work. 00:13:29.020 --> 00:13:30.900 And how he's supposed to work. 00:13:31.820 --> 00:13:33.360 Now, I don't know if you're like this. 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:38.580 But sometimes when we think that we need to act as mature Christians. 00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:41.740 We're afraid to bring our questions to Jesus. 00:13:43.100 --> 00:13:46.580 Because we don't want to think, oh, I don't want to appear like I'm a person who doubts. 00:13:46.940 --> 00:13:48.060 I have great faith. 00:13:48.139 --> 00:13:51.039 But inside we really, we have some questions like, what's going on? 00:13:52.180 --> 00:13:53.080 Well, look at John. 00:13:54.080 --> 00:13:56.899 John doesn't even let being in prison stop him. 00:13:57.519 --> 00:14:00.060 From taking those questions to Jesus. 00:14:01.320 --> 00:14:02.460 And look at what results. 00:14:02.460 --> 00:14:06.660 We get this incredible teaching about who Jesus is. 00:14:07.040 --> 00:14:08.780 And so I say that to you to encourage you. 00:14:09.660 --> 00:14:13.580 Maybe there's some things that are going on in your life where God's not meeting your expectations. 00:14:14.160 --> 00:14:15.680 And you have some questions. 00:14:16.220 --> 00:14:17.259 Like, God, what are you doing? 00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:20.180 Maybe there's some suffering on your heart. 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:24.840 You're saying, Pastor, you're lucky that I made it here even this morning with all that I'm going through. 00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:27.660 Maybe you have some questions. 00:14:27.860 --> 00:14:29.740 Why is it this way? 00:14:29.740 --> 00:14:33.460 Well, John shows us we can take those to Jesus. 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:38.060 He's big enough and powerful enough and loving enough that he can handle them. 00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:44.820 And so bring those questions to him so that we can get his perspective on our expectations and our suffering. 00:14:44.820 --> 00:14:47.080 So that's the perspective of Jesus. 00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:50.980 Secondly, we want to look at the presence of Jesus. 00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:57.160 Secondly, we want to look together at the presence of Jesus that comes out here in this passage. 00:14:57.300 --> 00:15:00.640 Now, where is it that Jesus was present? 00:15:01.280 --> 00:15:02.340 Where was he present? 00:15:02.340 --> 00:15:04.220 Where was he spending his time? 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:10.379 What did he point to to assure John that he was the one, that he is the one who was to come? 00:15:11.899 --> 00:15:13.200 Verse 21, it says, 00:15:13.300 --> 00:15:19.240 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits. 00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:22.720 And on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:33.300 And so what we see here is Jesus was present in the places and with the people of deepest need. 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:40.160 He was present among the people that society, their society at the time put on the very bottom. 00:15:41.160 --> 00:15:42.160 Use this analogy. 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:47.340 Kids, think about what it's like when you go to school and you have to decide where to sit in the lunchroom. 00:15:48.160 --> 00:15:49.639 Is it still this way when you go? 00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:51.120 Oh, they have all the different tables. 00:15:51.480 --> 00:15:55.399 Maybe you have the jocks table and the popular kids table and these kids table. 00:15:57.199 --> 00:15:59.639 But what about the kids who don't have any place to sit? 00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:04.299 Maybe some of you have been in that place. 00:16:05.500 --> 00:16:11.059 Well, you know the powerful thing about Jesus is that's the very place where he would have sat. 00:16:12.580 --> 00:16:18.559 He would have sat in the place at the table with those that everybody else put to the side. 00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:21.919 That nobody else wanted to be around. 00:16:22.179 --> 00:16:23.899 That's who he is. 00:16:24.299 --> 00:16:27.159 And likewise, we are the body of Christ. 00:16:27.339 --> 00:16:28.439 We are the church. 00:16:28.699 --> 00:16:30.959 We are the Lord's anointed. 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:36.780 And so what does that say to us about where we should be present? 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:38.900 I love that song that we just did. 00:16:39.420 --> 00:16:40.560 Give me your eyes to see. 00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:41.580 Is that the name of the song? 00:16:42.680 --> 00:16:43.040 Powerful. 00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:48.220 But that's expressing just how our presence is to be. 00:16:49.019 --> 00:16:50.480 Who are the outcasts? 00:16:51.780 --> 00:16:53.320 Who are those in Huntsville? 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:54.780 Who are those here? 00:16:54.860 --> 00:16:56.840 Who are those within this church even? 00:16:56.840 --> 00:17:00.560 Who are those in this community that are on the bottom? 00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:03.340 That people tend to pass by. 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:07.400 That people treat as if they're invisible or that they don't matter. 00:17:08.660 --> 00:17:13.180 Those are the very people that the church must be a presence among. 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:16.640 Now, what kind of presence should we be? 00:17:17.380 --> 00:17:18.900 Well, what kind of presence was Jesus? 00:17:19.220 --> 00:17:20.120 Look at verse 22. 00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:23.019 It says, 00:17:23.159 --> 00:17:23.759 And he answered them, 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:28.239 Go and tell John what you have seen and heard. 00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:31.059 And then he lists some things. 00:17:31.179 --> 00:17:32.979 The blind receive their sight. 00:17:33.479 --> 00:17:34.559 The lame walk. 00:17:35.159 --> 00:17:36.719 The lepers are cleansed. 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:37.919 The deaf hear. 00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:39.299 The dead are raised up. 00:17:39.679 --> 00:17:42.859 The poor have good news preached to them. 00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:45.119 And so what is that saying? 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:47.159 What kind of presence was Jesus? 00:17:47.159 --> 00:17:49.159 He was a comprehensive presence. 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:50.960 What do I mean by that? 00:17:51.420 --> 00:17:52.660 Well, in the passage it says, 00:17:52.860 --> 00:17:57.240 Go back and tell John what you've seen and heard. 00:17:58.019 --> 00:17:59.160 Not just seen. 00:17:59.620 --> 00:18:01.200 And not just heard. 00:18:01.360 --> 00:18:02.200 But both. 00:18:03.380 --> 00:18:05.180 He deals with their spiritual need. 00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:06.019 But not only that. 00:18:06.800 --> 00:18:10.300 He deals with their physical, their psychological, their emotional. 00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:12.920 Whatever need they have, he deals with it. 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:15.480 And not just because he's a nice guy. 00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:19.259 But because he's the Lord of every realm. 00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:23.680 And so he comes and he speaks to every realm. 00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:29.519 Imagine what it was like to have a leper, to have Jesus touch a leper. 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:32.599 Imagine what it was like for the leper. 00:18:33.380 --> 00:18:36.319 Remember the one he healed and he has compassion on him. 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:37.700 And he doesn't just say you're healed. 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:38.920 But he touches him. 00:18:38.920 --> 00:18:41.580 And says, Be healed. 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:43.279 What do you think that meant to him? 00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:45.680 Not only was he healed physically. 00:18:47.120 --> 00:18:50.300 But think of all the psychological shame. 00:18:51.340 --> 00:18:54.180 That comes from being an outcast. 00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:59.980 And Jesus comes and brings his healing touch to that as well. 00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:03.819 That's the kind of savior that we have. 00:19:05.099 --> 00:19:06.000 He's a comp... 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:06.799 I heard an amen. 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:09.740 I heard an amen. 00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:13.620 And he's a comprehensive witness. 00:19:13.880 --> 00:19:15.220 A comprehensive presence. 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:16.500 So are we to be. 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:21.279 We also are to do works that are both seen and heard. 00:19:22.059 --> 00:19:24.620 So that those places are different than they were. 00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:26.819 Now we're coming up to Christmas now. 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:28.019 I heard it mentioned already. 00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:31.039 So it must be okay to mention a Christmas movie. 00:19:31.859 --> 00:19:34.200 Some of you have seen that movie they play every year. 00:19:34.700 --> 00:19:36.059 Not Santa Claus is Coming to Town. 00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:37.299 But It's a Wonderful Life. 00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:41.500 And you know the main character of that story, George Bailey. 00:19:42.339 --> 00:19:43.940 He gets an amazing gift. 00:19:45.059 --> 00:19:49.480 He gets to see what life would be like as if he would never been born. 00:19:50.139 --> 00:19:53.779 Because he thinks, man, I'm just a burden on everybody that's around me. 00:19:53.819 --> 00:19:55.799 What difference does my life make? 00:19:55.799 --> 00:20:01.200 And he got a chance to see that lives were changed. 00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:03.419 Literally lives were saved. 00:20:03.940 --> 00:20:09.500 Because of his life-giving, comprehensive presence in that place. 00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:13.940 Instead of it becoming Pottersville, it remained Bedford Falls. 00:20:13.940 --> 00:20:16.820 Because he was a presence there. 00:20:18.080 --> 00:20:24.279 And that is a picture of what the people of God are to be like as well. 00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:31.440 It means we don't need to have an argument between the just-get-safe people and the social gospel people. 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:33.259 Jesus is the Lord of all of it. 00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:39.420 Jesus is the Lord of the gospel of the kingdom of God. 00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:42.779 And so he cares about everything. 00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:44.599 How does that get worked out practically? 00:20:45.079 --> 00:20:51.440 Some of the ministries you already talked about in your announcements, which are incredible, practical expressions of that. 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:55.259 In our own community, we have our churches there, the New City churches. 00:20:55.380 --> 00:20:57.860 There's three of them in the St. Louis city area. 00:20:58.400 --> 00:21:03.360 And then there's a nonprofit that's called Restore St. Louis, which has different programs. 00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:04.960 Some of them, one of them is a school. 00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:07.880 One of them is a health ministry. 00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:10.400 One of them works with people that are in prison. 00:21:11.080 --> 00:21:12.279 And what are they doing? 00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:18.720 They're a part of the comprehensive presence of Jesus Christ in that place. 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:24.680 Because those are the places where Jesus' presence needs to be felt. 00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:30.259 Now, some of you, speaking of Christmas, you've heard of that song, Joy to the World. 00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:33.740 There's a verse, it says there, 00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:40.139 No more let sins or sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground. 00:21:40.140 --> 00:21:44.259 He comes to make his blessings flow. 00:21:45.040 --> 00:21:45.420 Where? 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:48.360 Far as the curse is found. 00:21:49.100 --> 00:21:50.740 Now, think back to Genesis 3. 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:54.140 What impact did sin have on the world? 00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:56.140 What impact did the curse have? 00:21:56.920 --> 00:22:00.580 Not only did it affect people's relationship with God, that was broken. 00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:03.220 There's alienation between people and God. 00:22:04.340 --> 00:22:07.220 But not only that, there's alienation between people and people. 00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:10.339 And the way that people looked at themselves. 00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:14.299 And even with people's relationship with creation itself. 00:22:15.360 --> 00:22:24.460 And the great news of the gospel is that the redemption that Christ brings applies to all of those places that experience alienation. 00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:27.200 Here's a verse from Colossians 1. 00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:29.460 Colossians 1.9 and 20. 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:36.080 It says that for in him, in Jesus, all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. 00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:42.740 And through him, listen to this, to reconcile to himself all things. 00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:44.860 Now, what's included in all? 00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:45.920 Everything. 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:46.160 Everything. 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:50.240 To reconcile to himself all things. 00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:52.120 Whether on earth or in heaven. 00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:52.539 How? 00:22:52.539 --> 00:22:56.799 Making peace by the blood of his cross. 00:22:58.019 --> 00:23:00.599 And so the reconciliation that Jesus brings. 00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:04.720 The redemption that Christ brings is also comprehensive. 00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:08.240 It bridges the gap between us and God. 00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:14.039 But not only that, it tears down the dividing wall of hostility between us and one another. 00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:23.440 Not only that, it changes the way that we look at ourselves so that we're reminded that we're great creations made in the image and likeness of God. 00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:28.960 And even it gives us hope in the way that we work with creation itself. 00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:32.940 That is being renewed in the power of God. 00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:38.000 This is what it means to be the presence of Jesus. 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:42.619 Lastly, we've seen the perspective of Jesus. 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:46.259 And the presence of Jesus. 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:49.519 Lastly and thirdly, what about the power of Jesus? 00:23:50.420 --> 00:23:54.079 Because maybe you're sitting and you're going, how in the world am I going to get the power to do this? 00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:56.039 Well, you don't have it in and of yourself. 00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:59.980 But thankfully, you don't have to rely on the power you have yourself. 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:02.099 We look unto Jesus. 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:04.420 Now, how does he point us to himself here? 00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:07.320 The last verse, verse 23. 00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:10.860 And this is the strangest beatitude that you find in the Bible. 00:24:11.880 --> 00:24:12.980 This is just strange. 00:24:13.080 --> 00:24:17.820 He says, blessed is the one who is not offended by me. 00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:19.660 Who's not offended. 00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:23.920 It means literally not scandalized by me. 00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:25.019 They don't take offense. 00:24:25.120 --> 00:24:27.880 They're not repelled by me. 00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:31.880 Blessed is the one who's not scandalized by me. 00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:35.080 Now, why would we be offended by Jesus? 00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:36.320 Jesus is great, right? 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:39.900 Why would he offend us? 00:24:40.680 --> 00:24:45.620 Well, there's at least a couple reasons here in the passage and throughout the Gospels that we see. 00:24:46.060 --> 00:24:49.580 And it could be by what I call the only wayness of Jesus. 00:24:50.560 --> 00:24:53.480 Or it could be by the everybodiness of Jesus. 00:24:54.080 --> 00:24:55.460 I don't know if those are real words. 00:24:55.540 --> 00:24:56.600 I just kind of made them up. 00:24:56.599 --> 00:25:01.819 But the only wayness of Jesus and the everybodiness of Jesus. 00:25:01.939 --> 00:25:02.799 First, what do I mean? 00:25:02.859 --> 00:25:05.079 The only wayness of Jesus. 00:25:05.219 --> 00:25:07.299 You know those words in the Bible. 00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:09.319 That Jesus is the only way. 00:25:09.439 --> 00:25:11.179 John 14, verse 6. 00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:18.919 Jesus says, I am the way and the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father but by me. 00:25:19.619 --> 00:25:20.639 That can be offensive. 00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:23.320 Because people say, well, wait a minute. 00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:25.660 How can you say you're the only way to God? 00:25:26.100 --> 00:25:26.900 That's offensive. 00:25:27.060 --> 00:25:28.480 How can you say that? 00:25:28.520 --> 00:25:29.020 That's arrogant. 00:25:29.120 --> 00:25:29.920 That's what he says. 00:25:30.100 --> 00:25:30.880 I am the way. 00:25:31.780 --> 00:25:33.320 And so people can be offended by that. 00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:34.540 People can be offended. 00:25:34.660 --> 00:25:36.060 You can put up Ephesians 2. 00:25:37.520 --> 00:25:40.759 By the fact that we are saved not by what we've done. 00:25:41.340 --> 00:25:42.660 Not by our record. 00:25:42.800 --> 00:25:44.140 Not by our heritage. 00:25:44.140 --> 00:25:47.500 We're saved by the grace and mercy of God. 00:25:47.720 --> 00:25:48.500 And that's all. 00:25:49.300 --> 00:25:51.600 For it is by grace you've been saved through faith. 00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:54.600 And this is not your own doing. 00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:56.600 It is the gift of God. 00:25:57.360 --> 00:26:01.240 Not the results of work so that no one can boast. 00:26:02.860 --> 00:26:05.200 And finally, let's put up 1 Corinthians 1. 00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:08.280 It says, what about the message of the cross? 00:26:08.580 --> 00:26:09.780 It's a dividing line. 00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:15.519 On the one hand, the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing. 00:26:15.579 --> 00:26:16.819 They say, that's ridiculous. 00:26:17.139 --> 00:26:19.099 How can you have a crucified Messiah? 00:26:19.639 --> 00:26:22.519 How can you have a conquered hero that you follow? 00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:24.559 That doesn't make any sense at all. 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:27.940 It's folly to those who are perishing. 00:26:28.139 --> 00:26:33.200 But to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:39.759 And so maybe people are offended by the only wayness of Jesus Christ. 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:40.860 It's kind of like this. 00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:42.660 Again, thinking about Christmas coming up. 00:26:43.100 --> 00:26:49.779 How would you feel if your loved one gave you this present and you open it up and it reveals it's a makeover book? 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:51.980 You're like, what? 00:26:52.059 --> 00:26:53.019 What are you trying to say? 00:26:55.880 --> 00:26:57.259 Well, you know, you're saying that. 00:26:57.720 --> 00:27:01.740 What are you saying about me that you think I need this? 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:01.779 Yes. 00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:04.000 That's what the cross says. 00:27:04.900 --> 00:27:07.359 It says you can't save yourself. 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:14.059 In fact, the only thing that can save you is the Son of God himself living the life that you should have lived. 00:27:14.859 --> 00:27:18.339 And dying the death that you should have died in your place. 00:27:19.120 --> 00:27:21.680 And being raised from the dead so that you can have life. 00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:23.380 That's the only thing that can save you. 00:27:23.380 --> 00:27:31.860 Maybe there's somebody that's come today and you didn't know him for yourself. 00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:34.220 Maybe you've been trying to work your way back. 00:27:34.980 --> 00:27:36.120 You're saying, I'm in church. 00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:36.720 I'm here. 00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:39.460 I'm doing the things that I'm supposed to do. 00:27:39.580 --> 00:27:46.600 Maybe God will look on that and say, well, that's enough to save me as I compare my life to everybody else's. 00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:48.619 And maybe I'm doing a little bit better. 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:53.599 There's not that much cleaning in all the world. 00:27:54.879 --> 00:27:56.039 Come to him now. 00:27:56.899 --> 00:27:58.980 You can't work your way to him. 00:27:59.919 --> 00:28:07.199 That's why he has died for you to bring you not just into his religion, but to bring you into his family. 00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:09.779 To bring you into his arms. 00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:13.399 He's given his son for you. 00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:16.799 Come to him. 00:28:16.899 --> 00:28:17.700 Cry out to him. 00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:20.139 Maybe some of you, you hear his voice. 00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:21.879 He is a good shepherd. 00:28:22.899 --> 00:28:24.740 And the sheep hear his voice. 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:26.420 And they follow him. 00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:29.019 So that they can have eternal life. 00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:31.139 My prayer is that would be for you today. 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:35.399 So maybe the only wayness of Jesus offends us. 00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:39.119 But not only that, maybe it's not the only wayness, 00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:40.799 but the everybodiness of Jesus. 00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:46.079 If you keep reading in chapter 7, there's a passage at the end of the chapter. 00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:49.919 It's an encounter where Jesus goes to eat with one of the Pharisees. 00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:54.659 And there's a woman who's described as living a sinful life in that town. 00:28:54.799 --> 00:28:56.519 Who hears that Jesus is there. 00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:57.539 And she comes. 00:28:57.599 --> 00:29:00.299 And she comes to him as they're reclining at the table. 00:29:00.379 --> 00:29:01.959 And she makes her way into the house. 00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:04.899 And she doesn't care what everybody else does. 00:29:04.979 --> 00:29:06.219 What everybody else says. 00:29:06.219 --> 00:29:08.899 What everybody else thinks about her. 00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:13.139 What she does with her actions is she's saying, 00:29:13.479 --> 00:29:15.019 Oh, how I love Jesus. 00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:17.579 Because of what he's done for me. 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:22.759 And so she cries and she wipes his feet with her tears. 00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:25.720 And the people around him are saying, 00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:28.400 If Jesus knew who this was, 00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:31.160 what kind of woman she was, 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:32.779 and that she was touching him, 00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:35.660 then he wouldn't let her do that. 00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:37.519 And he uses her. 00:29:37.640 --> 00:29:38.839 He knows what they're thinking. 00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:40.839 Showing his divinity again. 00:29:40.839 --> 00:29:42.659 And he says, 00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:45.199 The problem with you guys is that you love little. 00:29:45.919 --> 00:29:48.319 Because you think you only need a little bit of forgiveness. 00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:52.099 But she realizes she's been forgiven much. 00:29:52.099 --> 00:29:55.259 And so she loves much. 00:29:57.259 --> 00:29:58.879 And that is a picture of us. 00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:06.240 One of the reasons that people get offended by Jesus oftentimes is who he's hanging out with. 00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:09.440 Who he decides to associate with. 00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:11.920 The people he gathered himself with. 00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:14.160 If you go back to that passage in Luke 4, 00:30:14.220 --> 00:30:14.799 it's very funny. 00:30:15.359 --> 00:30:16.920 Jesus has this great sermon. 00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:20.920 And he sits down and he has a drop the mic moment. 00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:21.700 He says, 00:30:21.880 --> 00:30:23.519 This scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. 00:30:24.120 --> 00:30:26.060 And he actually should have dropped the mic, 00:30:26.140 --> 00:30:26.600 but he didn't. 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:28.240 He keeps on going. 00:30:29.019 --> 00:30:31.820 Everybody thought well of him until he kept going. 00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:33.420 And he said, 00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:34.480 Y'all know what? 00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:34.920 You know, 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:36.779 a prophet doesn't have honor in his hometown. 00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:40.600 Let me point out a couple examples from the Old Testament. 00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:47.180 Of how God came and showed his favor to Gentiles instead. 00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:49.900 And after Jesus gives those examples, 00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:52.280 it says they drive him to the edge of town. 00:30:52.340 --> 00:30:53.019 They want to kill him. 00:30:53.640 --> 00:30:55.700 His approval rating has skyrocketed. 00:30:56.120 --> 00:30:56.600 Downward. 00:30:57.500 --> 00:30:59.280 In just a matter of moments. 00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:00.080 Why? 00:31:02.080 --> 00:31:05.200 Because he chooses to identify himself with the outcasts. 00:31:06.460 --> 00:31:08.580 There's only one way to come to Jesus. 00:31:09.340 --> 00:31:10.740 But anybody can come. 00:31:11.860 --> 00:31:13.440 No matter who you are. 00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:15.500 No matter where you're from. 00:31:15.600 --> 00:31:18.100 No matter what you have done. 00:31:18.099 --> 00:31:20.000 You can come. 00:31:20.099 --> 00:31:21.659 You are not too far gone. 00:31:22.579 --> 00:31:26.639 Your sin is not too far great that he can't redeem you of it. 00:31:27.179 --> 00:31:28.559 And not only is that true for you, 00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:31.099 it's also true for your neighbors. 00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:35.480 And so as we think about being the last point, 00:31:36.719 --> 00:31:40.779 one of the things that I find in myself still 00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:44.099 is there's things, 00:31:44.219 --> 00:31:45.559 there's issues of my own heart 00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:47.339 that come. 00:31:47.419 --> 00:31:48.899 And the way that I look at people. 00:31:49.579 --> 00:31:51.359 And the way that I treat people. 00:31:52.359 --> 00:31:56.219 And the way that I exalt myself over people in my own mind. 00:31:56.220 --> 00:31:58.680 What about you? 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:00.420 Here's a question to ponder. 00:32:02.339 --> 00:32:03.799 Who are your Samaritans? 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:06.779 What do I mean? 00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:09.579 Well, if you keep reading just a few chapters, 00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:11.940 there's that famous story 00:32:11.940 --> 00:32:15.480 where the expert in the law comes up 00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:16.860 really to trap Jesus, 00:32:17.120 --> 00:32:18.799 to try and get him to show 00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:21.120 he doesn't really love God and follow God. 00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:22.000 And he says, 00:32:22.079 --> 00:32:23.799 what must I do to inherit eternal life? 00:32:23.839 --> 00:32:24.959 You might remember that story. 00:32:26.119 --> 00:32:26.539 And he says, 00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:27.539 what does the scripture say? 00:32:28.579 --> 00:32:29.979 Points him back to the Old Testament. 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:34.099 And he lists those two greatest commandments. 00:32:34.299 --> 00:32:35.239 Love the Lord your God 00:32:35.239 --> 00:32:37.099 with all your heart and all your soul 00:32:37.099 --> 00:32:38.859 and all your strength and all your mind. 00:32:38.979 --> 00:32:40.279 And, do you remember the other? 00:32:40.439 --> 00:32:43.779 Love your neighbor as yourself. 00:32:44.579 --> 00:32:45.299 And Jesus said, 00:32:45.299 --> 00:32:45.959 man, that's right. 00:32:46.039 --> 00:32:46.479 That's great. 00:32:46.579 --> 00:32:47.559 Do this and you will live. 00:32:48.439 --> 00:32:49.799 But the guy's not satisfied. 00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:51.259 And he asked a question. 00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:53.059 He says, 00:32:53.220 --> 00:32:54.619 who is my neighbor? 00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:56.839 What is he asking when he says that? 00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:59.180 Who do I have to love? 00:32:59.419 --> 00:33:01.200 And who do I not have to love? 00:33:02.039 --> 00:33:03.700 Have you ever kind of looked for a loophole 00:33:03.700 --> 00:33:04.659 in the law of God? 00:33:05.399 --> 00:33:05.980 He's saying, 00:33:06.079 --> 00:33:07.700 I want to be able to say 00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:09.259 I'm following the law of God, 00:33:09.379 --> 00:33:11.039 but I don't want to love those people. 00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:13.180 And so if there's people 00:33:13.180 --> 00:33:15.399 that I can classify as not neighbors, 00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:17.819 then I'm not breaking the law 00:33:17.819 --> 00:33:18.700 if I don't love them. 00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:20.059 That's what the guy is saying. 00:33:21.039 --> 00:33:22.299 And rather than get into 00:33:22.299 --> 00:33:24.500 a theological and philosophical debate, 00:33:24.580 --> 00:33:25.440 what did Jesus do? 00:33:26.059 --> 00:33:27.340 He just told him a story 00:33:27.340 --> 00:33:30.120 about a man who was traveling 00:33:30.120 --> 00:33:31.240 on one of those roads 00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:33.500 that you don't want to be caught in at night. 00:33:34.860 --> 00:33:36.019 And on that road, 00:33:36.779 --> 00:33:38.120 a man is beaten and bloodied 00:33:38.120 --> 00:33:38.880 and left for dead. 00:33:40.019 --> 00:33:41.180 And then in the story, 00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:42.900 Jesus says a priest comes along 00:33:42.900 --> 00:33:45.360 and he sees the man 00:33:45.360 --> 00:33:48.420 and he passes by on the other side. 00:33:49.680 --> 00:33:50.940 And then Jesus says, 00:33:51.060 --> 00:33:52.019 also a Levite, 00:33:52.480 --> 00:33:53.460 the people who would assist 00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:54.440 the priests in the temple, 00:33:54.740 --> 00:33:56.680 they come and he sees the man 00:33:56.680 --> 00:33:57.920 lying there in the middle of the road 00:33:57.920 --> 00:33:58.940 and when he saw him, 00:34:00.380 --> 00:34:02.280 he passes by on the other side. 00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:05.440 And then there's a third person. 00:34:05.440 --> 00:34:08.059 And what the expert in the law 00:34:08.059 --> 00:34:09.920 is expecting Jesus to say 00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:12.960 is somebody like you comes along 00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:16.260 and is really the hero of the story. 00:34:16.980 --> 00:34:17.700 But instead, 00:34:17.880 --> 00:34:19.659 Jesus doesn't say somebody like you. 00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:20.840 Jesus says, 00:34:22.039 --> 00:34:22.780 a Samaritan 00:34:22.780 --> 00:34:23.440 came. 00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:24.159 came. 00:34:25.500 --> 00:34:26.740 And when he saw him, 00:34:27.860 --> 00:34:29.460 his heart broke for him. 00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:32.579 And that heartbreak 00:34:32.579 --> 00:34:33.740 moved him to action. 00:34:34.980 --> 00:34:35.940 He got down 00:34:35.940 --> 00:34:37.760 and tended to the man's wounds 00:34:37.760 --> 00:34:38.519 and he bandaged him. 00:34:38.599 --> 00:34:40.440 He poured on oil and wine 00:34:40.440 --> 00:34:42.099 to bring healing to the wounds. 00:34:42.179 --> 00:34:43.420 But then he doesn't stop there. 00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:45.380 He picks the man up 00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:46.900 and puts him on his own donkey, 00:34:47.019 --> 00:34:47.639 which means now 00:34:47.639 --> 00:34:48.559 he's got to do what? 00:34:49.240 --> 00:34:49.900 He's walking. 00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:52.780 But he doesn't stop there. 00:34:52.780 --> 00:34:54.040 Then he takes him to an end 00:34:54.040 --> 00:34:54.900 and takes care of him. 00:34:55.060 --> 00:34:56.000 But then he continues. 00:34:56.220 --> 00:34:57.200 He goes to the guy. 00:34:57.260 --> 00:34:57.560 He says, 00:34:57.620 --> 00:34:57.740 look, 00:34:57.860 --> 00:34:58.600 here's some money. 00:34:58.940 --> 00:34:59.720 Take care of him there 00:34:59.720 --> 00:35:01.040 and I'll be back. 00:35:01.280 --> 00:35:02.500 If you need more later, 00:35:02.580 --> 00:35:03.760 I'll bring back more later. 00:35:04.160 --> 00:35:04.560 Amazing. 00:35:05.320 --> 00:35:06.220 Amazing picture 00:35:06.220 --> 00:35:08.000 of sacrificial love. 00:35:10.120 --> 00:35:11.640 And then Jesus goes back 00:35:11.640 --> 00:35:13.740 to the expert in the law 00:35:13.740 --> 00:35:14.720 and Jesus changes 00:35:14.720 --> 00:35:15.620 the question around him. 00:35:15.800 --> 00:35:16.740 Do you remember the question 00:35:16.740 --> 00:35:17.560 the guy asked him? 00:35:17.820 --> 00:35:18.340 He said, 00:35:18.620 --> 00:35:20.220 who is my neighbor? 00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:22.600 But instead, 00:35:22.599 --> 00:35:23.500 Jesus says, 00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:25.219 which one was a neighbor? 00:35:26.480 --> 00:35:27.779 Which one proved 00:35:27.779 --> 00:35:28.980 to be a neighbor 00:35:28.980 --> 00:35:30.539 to the man 00:35:30.539 --> 00:35:31.759 who fell among robbers? 00:35:32.539 --> 00:35:33.079 And the man, 00:35:33.239 --> 00:35:33.880 he doesn't even say 00:35:33.880 --> 00:35:34.519 the Samaritan. 00:35:34.599 --> 00:35:35.440 Do you ever notice that? 00:35:36.059 --> 00:35:36.880 In the story, 00:35:36.940 --> 00:35:37.360 he says, 00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:38.579 the one who had mercy on him. 00:35:40.239 --> 00:35:40.779 He's like, 00:35:40.799 --> 00:35:41.880 I got the point, man. 00:35:44.159 --> 00:35:45.099 And Jesus says, 00:35:45.159 --> 00:35:45.940 go and do likewise. 00:35:46.559 --> 00:35:47.739 What was Jesus doing? 00:35:47.739 --> 00:35:50.419 He wasn't just showing 00:35:50.419 --> 00:35:52.119 what radical love looks like. 00:35:52.359 --> 00:35:53.319 Certainly the Samaritan 00:35:53.319 --> 00:35:54.199 shows us that. 00:35:54.819 --> 00:35:55.839 But what he was doing 00:35:55.839 --> 00:35:57.159 when he told that story 00:35:57.159 --> 00:35:58.579 and he chose 00:35:58.579 --> 00:36:01.000 to make the hated one 00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:02.799 the hero of the story. 00:36:06.079 --> 00:36:07.459 He's showing the expert 00:36:07.459 --> 00:36:07.939 in the law 00:36:07.939 --> 00:36:09.459 what's in his own heart. 00:36:09.460 --> 00:36:12.900 He does that 00:36:12.900 --> 00:36:13.980 by making the hated one 00:36:13.980 --> 00:36:14.400 the hero. 00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:16.679 So back to my question 00:36:16.679 --> 00:36:17.840 I asked a few minutes ago. 00:36:18.639 --> 00:36:19.079 Who 00:36:19.079 --> 00:36:21.320 are our Samaritans? 00:36:23.400 --> 00:36:24.840 Who are the people for us? 00:36:26.280 --> 00:36:27.099 That if Jesus 00:36:27.099 --> 00:36:28.320 was telling that story 00:36:28.320 --> 00:36:29.920 and he says, 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:31.000 the priest came along, 00:36:31.099 --> 00:36:32.199 the Levite came along, 00:36:32.300 --> 00:36:32.619 and then 00:36:32.619 --> 00:36:36.839 who would it be for you 00:36:36.839 --> 00:36:39.880 that you would never expect? 00:36:40.339 --> 00:36:41.039 That you would say, 00:36:41.179 --> 00:36:42.679 no, Jesus, not them. 00:36:43.460 --> 00:36:44.299 They can't be 00:36:44.299 --> 00:36:45.460 the hero of the story. 00:36:46.319 --> 00:36:47.099 Maybe it's a person 00:36:47.099 --> 00:36:47.940 of another race. 00:36:49.480 --> 00:36:50.400 Maybe it's a person 00:36:50.400 --> 00:36:51.519 from a different place. 00:36:52.679 --> 00:36:53.719 From a different part 00:36:53.719 --> 00:36:54.219 of the country 00:36:54.219 --> 00:36:55.119 or a different part 00:36:55.119 --> 00:36:55.739 of the world. 00:36:56.819 --> 00:36:57.480 Maybe it's a person 00:36:57.480 --> 00:36:58.279 who looks differently 00:36:58.279 --> 00:36:59.500 or of a different gender 00:36:59.500 --> 00:37:00.539 or a different generation. 00:37:01.599 --> 00:37:02.480 Maybe a person 00:37:02.480 --> 00:37:03.820 of a different orientation. 00:37:04.860 --> 00:37:06.000 Maybe a person 00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:06.519 of a different 00:37:06.519 --> 00:37:07.440 political party. 00:37:09.800 --> 00:37:10.980 Who is it for you 00:37:10.980 --> 00:37:13.679 that if he's telling 00:37:13.679 --> 00:37:14.320 that story 00:37:14.320 --> 00:37:16.000 you say, 00:37:16.139 --> 00:37:16.940 no, not them. 00:37:18.539 --> 00:37:19.599 Well, that's a clue 00:37:19.599 --> 00:37:21.039 to what's in our own hearts 00:37:21.039 --> 00:37:22.860 towards other people 00:37:22.860 --> 00:37:23.380 who are made 00:37:23.380 --> 00:37:23.840 in the image 00:37:23.840 --> 00:37:25.179 and likeness of God. 00:37:26.539 --> 00:37:27.780 And so what do you do 00:37:27.780 --> 00:37:29.400 with that? 00:37:30.539 --> 00:37:31.460 Well, I love the prayer 00:37:31.460 --> 00:37:31.880 of David 00:37:31.880 --> 00:37:32.360 at the end 00:37:32.360 --> 00:37:33.800 of Psalm 139 00:37:33.800 --> 00:37:37.019 where he says 00:37:37.019 --> 00:37:38.800 after he's rehearsed 00:37:38.800 --> 00:37:39.599 all the ways 00:37:39.599 --> 00:37:40.920 that God knows him 00:37:40.920 --> 00:37:41.599 intimately 00:37:41.599 --> 00:37:42.519 when he was 00:37:42.519 --> 00:37:43.619 in his mother's womb 00:37:43.619 --> 00:37:44.480 as a little baby, 00:37:45.680 --> 00:37:46.119 he says, 00:37:46.460 --> 00:37:47.200 search me, O God, 00:37:48.019 --> 00:37:48.940 and know my heart. 00:37:50.019 --> 00:37:50.619 Test me 00:37:50.619 --> 00:37:53.140 and know my anxious thoughts. 00:37:54.140 --> 00:37:55.240 See if there's 00:37:55.240 --> 00:37:56.559 any offensive way 00:37:56.559 --> 00:37:57.280 in me 00:37:57.280 --> 00:37:59.260 and then lead me 00:37:59.260 --> 00:37:59.940 in the way 00:37:59.940 --> 00:38:01.000 everlasting. 00:38:02.440 --> 00:38:03.160 He's saying, 00:38:03.220 --> 00:38:04.140 God, just show me. 00:38:04.260 --> 00:38:05.320 Do inventory 00:38:05.320 --> 00:38:06.360 of my heart 00:38:06.360 --> 00:38:07.680 and my soul 00:38:07.680 --> 00:38:09.600 and show me 00:38:09.600 --> 00:38:10.220 what's wrong 00:38:10.220 --> 00:38:11.100 because there's 00:38:11.100 --> 00:38:11.900 no greater, 00:38:12.060 --> 00:38:13.000 there's no safer 00:38:13.000 --> 00:38:14.680 place to be 00:38:14.680 --> 00:38:16.480 than in the hands 00:38:16.480 --> 00:38:17.480 of the great physician. 00:38:18.420 --> 00:38:19.780 And so I can bring 00:38:19.780 --> 00:38:20.780 those things to you 00:38:20.780 --> 00:38:22.740 so that you can 00:38:22.740 --> 00:38:23.540 change me. 00:38:23.539 --> 00:38:26.000 we desperately need 00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:26.719 the power 00:38:26.719 --> 00:38:27.880 of Jesus 00:38:27.880 --> 00:38:29.860 so that we can 00:38:29.860 --> 00:38:30.820 feel the offense 00:38:30.820 --> 00:38:31.259 of Jesus 00:38:31.259 --> 00:38:32.380 but not reject him 00:38:32.380 --> 00:38:34.659 but embrace him 00:38:34.659 --> 00:38:35.440 instead. 00:38:36.440 --> 00:38:37.039 Isn't it good 00:38:37.039 --> 00:38:37.440 to know 00:38:37.440 --> 00:38:39.079 that we follow 00:38:39.079 --> 00:38:39.940 a savior 00:38:39.940 --> 00:38:41.159 who identifies 00:38:41.159 --> 00:38:41.860 himself 00:38:41.860 --> 00:38:42.940 with the very 00:38:42.940 --> 00:38:44.300 least of these 00:38:44.300 --> 00:38:46.080 and you say, 00:38:46.200 --> 00:38:46.600 well, I'm not 00:38:46.600 --> 00:38:47.140 like that 00:38:47.140 --> 00:38:48.180 or I try 00:38:48.180 --> 00:38:48.920 to be like that 00:38:48.920 --> 00:38:49.640 and I'm tired. 00:38:50.600 --> 00:38:51.360 Well, that points 00:38:51.360 --> 00:38:52.220 us to where we look 00:38:52.220 --> 00:38:53.000 where we find 00:38:53.000 --> 00:38:53.560 the power 00:38:53.560 --> 00:38:54.400 and the strength 00:38:54.400 --> 00:38:54.880 to be able 00:38:54.880 --> 00:38:55.420 to do it. 00:38:57.019 --> 00:38:57.420 Do you remember 00:38:57.420 --> 00:38:58.740 that passage 00:38:58.740 --> 00:38:59.460 that I just referred 00:38:59.460 --> 00:39:00.500 to in Matthew 25 00:39:00.500 --> 00:39:02.440 where Jesus says, 00:39:02.740 --> 00:39:03.300 as you've done 00:39:03.300 --> 00:39:03.980 to the least 00:39:03.980 --> 00:39:04.560 of these 00:39:04.560 --> 00:39:05.760 so also 00:39:05.760 --> 00:39:06.600 you've done 00:39:06.600 --> 00:39:07.300 to me. 00:39:08.660 --> 00:39:09.620 And then you remember 00:39:09.620 --> 00:39:10.260 that people say, 00:39:10.360 --> 00:39:10.640 Jesus, 00:39:10.760 --> 00:39:11.820 when did we see you 00:39:11.820 --> 00:39:12.760 hungry and thirsty 00:39:12.760 --> 00:39:13.220 and sick 00:39:13.219 --> 00:39:13.959 and in prison 00:39:13.959 --> 00:39:14.679 and then not 00:39:14.679 --> 00:39:15.179 tend to you 00:39:15.179 --> 00:39:15.980 or attend to you? 00:39:18.119 --> 00:39:18.980 Well, when do we 00:39:18.980 --> 00:39:21.159 most see Jesus 00:39:21.159 --> 00:39:21.579 naked? 00:39:22.480 --> 00:39:23.219 When do we most 00:39:23.219 --> 00:39:23.919 see Jesus 00:39:23.919 --> 00:39:24.639 a prisoner? 00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:26.819 When do we most 00:39:26.819 --> 00:39:28.459 see him thirsty 00:39:28.459 --> 00:39:29.000 and in need 00:39:29.000 --> 00:39:29.799 of water? 00:39:30.299 --> 00:39:31.179 When do we most 00:39:31.179 --> 00:39:31.939 see him in need 00:39:31.939 --> 00:39:32.439 of care? 00:39:32.899 --> 00:39:33.859 When he's hanging 00:39:33.859 --> 00:39:34.619 on a cross 00:39:34.619 --> 00:39:35.539 for us 00:39:35.539 --> 00:39:37.379 identifying 00:39:37.379 --> 00:39:38.519 with the very 00:39:38.519 --> 00:39:39.859 least of these. 00:39:41.319 --> 00:39:42.159 That is where 00:39:42.159 --> 00:39:42.639 we look. 00:39:43.219 --> 00:39:44.459 That is where 00:39:44.459 --> 00:39:44.980 we go. 00:39:45.939 --> 00:39:46.919 To be able 00:39:46.919 --> 00:39:48.000 to find the power 00:39:48.000 --> 00:39:49.699 to do the very 00:39:49.699 --> 00:39:50.239 things 00:39:50.239 --> 00:39:52.019 that he's called 00:39:52.019 --> 00:39:53.379 us to do. 00:39:55.379 --> 00:39:56.500 We look to the one 00:39:56.500 --> 00:39:57.500 who was despised 00:39:57.500 --> 00:39:58.539 and rejected. 00:39:59.259 --> 00:40:00.219 Who was a man 00:40:00.219 --> 00:40:00.959 of sorrows 00:40:00.959 --> 00:40:02.079 and familiar 00:40:02.079 --> 00:40:02.779 with suffering. 00:40:03.480 --> 00:40:03.839 You say, 00:40:03.919 --> 00:40:04.480 but pastor, 00:40:04.599 --> 00:40:05.679 I've been bruised. 00:40:05.899 --> 00:40:06.059 Well, 00:40:06.099 --> 00:40:06.879 he was bruised. 00:40:07.879 --> 00:40:08.379 You say, 00:40:08.459 --> 00:40:08.719 pastor, 00:40:08.799 --> 00:40:09.459 I've been crushed. 00:40:09.599 --> 00:40:09.719 Well, 00:40:09.759 --> 00:40:10.439 he was crushed. 00:40:11.239 --> 00:40:11.679 You say, 00:40:11.739 --> 00:40:12.179 but pastor, 00:40:12.179 --> 00:40:12.940 I've been wounded. 00:40:13.039 --> 00:40:13.179 Well, 00:40:13.219 --> 00:40:14.339 he was wounded. 00:40:15.719 --> 00:40:16.719 And it's by 00:40:16.719 --> 00:40:17.579 his stripes 00:40:17.579 --> 00:40:19.859 that we are healed. 00:40:23.960 --> 00:40:25.000 By the power 00:40:25.000 --> 00:40:26.000 of God's spirit 00:40:26.000 --> 00:40:27.460 living in us 00:40:27.460 --> 00:40:29.259 and moving in us, 00:40:29.879 --> 00:40:30.940 let us be a people 00:40:30.940 --> 00:40:32.759 that live out 00:40:32.759 --> 00:40:33.739 what it means 00:40:33.739 --> 00:40:35.419 to have church 00:40:35.419 --> 00:40:37.319 here in Huntsville 00:40:37.319 --> 00:40:38.859 and around the world. 00:40:38.860 --> 00:40:40.260 let's pray. 00:40:42.960 --> 00:40:43.360 Father, 00:40:43.400 --> 00:40:44.120 we pray today 00:40:44.120 --> 00:40:44.620 that you 00:40:44.620 --> 00:40:47.200 would give us 00:40:47.200 --> 00:40:48.640 the perspective 00:40:48.640 --> 00:40:49.200 of Jesus. 00:40:50.320 --> 00:40:50.720 Lord, 00:40:50.760 --> 00:40:51.240 you know what 00:40:51.240 --> 00:40:51.920 each person 00:40:51.920 --> 00:40:52.680 comes in need of. 00:40:52.740 --> 00:40:53.480 You know the places 00:40:53.480 --> 00:40:53.940 where 00:40:53.940 --> 00:40:56.700 our expectations 00:40:56.700 --> 00:40:57.559 haven't been met. 00:40:58.500 --> 00:40:59.220 You know the places 00:40:59.220 --> 00:41:00.400 where we're suffering today. 00:41:01.340 --> 00:41:02.099 And I pray that you might 00:41:02.099 --> 00:41:03.180 give us your perspective. 00:41:03.179 --> 00:41:03.239 Father, 00:41:04.440 --> 00:41:05.219 and Father, 00:41:05.299 --> 00:41:05.879 I pray that you 00:41:05.879 --> 00:41:06.539 would help us 00:41:06.539 --> 00:41:07.899 to be a presence 00:41:07.899 --> 00:41:09.699 in the places 00:41:09.699 --> 00:41:10.559 that are hurting 00:41:10.559 --> 00:41:11.359 the most 00:41:11.359 --> 00:41:13.139 in our cities 00:41:13.139 --> 00:41:14.619 and around this world. 00:41:15.619 --> 00:41:16.539 Help us to be 00:41:16.539 --> 00:41:17.139 a tangible, 00:41:17.399 --> 00:41:18.739 comprehensive presence. 00:41:19.719 --> 00:41:19.980 And Lord, 00:41:20.039 --> 00:41:20.699 we pray that you 00:41:20.699 --> 00:41:21.440 would fill us 00:41:21.440 --> 00:41:22.319 with your power 00:41:22.319 --> 00:41:24.539 where we would feel 00:41:24.539 --> 00:41:25.099 the offense 00:41:25.099 --> 00:41:25.679 of the gospel, 00:41:25.859 --> 00:41:26.460 where we would 00:41:26.460 --> 00:41:27.799 embrace that offense. 00:41:28.299 --> 00:41:29.179 We would embrace 00:41:29.179 --> 00:41:30.279 the only wayness 00:41:30.280 --> 00:41:30.800 of Jesus 00:41:30.800 --> 00:41:31.940 and also 00:41:31.940 --> 00:41:33.200 the everybodiness 00:41:33.200 --> 00:41:34.320 of Jesus. 00:41:35.120 --> 00:41:35.720 And we pray 00:41:35.720 --> 00:41:36.660 you'd be glorified 00:41:36.660 --> 00:41:37.160 as you do 00:41:37.160 --> 00:41:37.940 all these things. 00:41:38.460 --> 00:41:39.060 We ask that 00:41:39.060 --> 00:41:39.900 in Jesus' name. 00:41:40.320 --> 00:41:40.540 Amen. 00:41:42.120 --> 00:41:43.019 Amen, amen. 00:41:43.380 --> 00:41:44.019 Stay with us 00:41:44.019 --> 00:41:44.740 to sing together 00:41:44.740 --> 00:41:46.380 near the cross. 00:41:49.580 --> 00:41:50.780 For more information, 00:41:51.160 --> 00:41:52.080 visit us online 00:41:52.080 --> 00:41:53.380 at southwood.org.