WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.900 Taking a look at that video, you have turmoil, strife, fear, loss, suffering. 00:00:13.120 --> 00:00:22.960 A little news montage that we saw is about the financial crisis that was, well, like 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:24.320 10 years ago now. 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:25.160 It's crazy. 00:00:25.560 --> 00:00:27.080 Almost a decade ago. 00:00:27.079 --> 00:00:34.859 And you could have easily replaced that montage with any number of events and themes. 00:00:35.679 --> 00:00:45.659 You could have replaced it with headlines about war or famine, violence, disease, corruption, 00:00:45.939 --> 00:00:50.920 disasters, or any other causes of suffering that you see in this world today. 00:00:50.920 --> 00:00:56.799 Just think, if you guys watch the news, hopefully, or read the news, think about all the negative 00:00:56.799 --> 00:01:03.280 headlines, the negative, the bad news you've read and seen and heard over the last few 00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:03.579 months. 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:11.759 And while there are so many themes, what I did like about this video was I think it captures 00:01:11.759 --> 00:01:15.079 something that is very relevant to us in Hong Kong. 00:01:15.079 --> 00:01:21.120 The idea of financial security and stability. 00:01:21.819 --> 00:01:23.319 It's something we all need, right? 00:01:23.459 --> 00:01:30.519 Just that opportunity to just live our lives, to have our basic needs and our desires met. 00:01:31.340 --> 00:01:39.539 A life of stability and gain, not wild losses that are just like being tossed by an ocean 00:01:39.540 --> 00:01:40.180 storm. 00:01:40.180 --> 00:01:50.719 But when people experience loss, when they encounter suffering, like the people who went 00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:58.000 through the financial crisis, when that lifelong security net is just pulled out from right 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:02.420 beneath your feet, the responses can be devastating. 00:02:02.420 --> 00:02:06.120 The effects can be absolutely devastating. 00:02:07.560 --> 00:02:13.699 I found that the British Journal of Psychiatry actually published research not long ago showing 00:02:13.699 --> 00:02:26.099 that in North America and Europe, at least 10,000 suicides from 2008 to 2010, around the time 00:02:26.099 --> 00:02:27.759 of the financial crisis. 00:02:27.759 --> 00:02:32.340 10,000 suicides were related to that great recession. 00:02:33.859 --> 00:02:41.599 Job loss, debt, foreclosures, family finances just wiped out. 00:02:43.699 --> 00:02:47.120 Financial security completely lost. 00:02:47.939 --> 00:02:51.180 And on top of that, suicide and death. 00:02:51.180 --> 00:03:01.060 And this church, this friends, is the nature of this biblical episode that Melody just read 00:03:01.060 --> 00:03:01.580 for us. 00:03:03.099 --> 00:03:08.740 And this little passage is short, but it's rich, very rich in content. 00:03:10.360 --> 00:03:16.700 We're in the second week of a series called Sinners Jesus Met, as Eric explained at the beginning. 00:03:16.699 --> 00:03:20.799 How Jesus comes into the lives of these various people. 00:03:20.939 --> 00:03:27.719 And last week, we talked about the woman, the suffering woman, and Simon the Pharisee, 00:03:28.399 --> 00:03:34.719 and how God meets the religious, the pious people, the people who think that they've got it all 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:35.139 together. 00:03:36.379 --> 00:03:41.539 And today, we're going to look in this episode at how Jesus meets this widow. 00:03:42.780 --> 00:03:45.379 This widow who has just lost her only son. 00:03:46.699 --> 00:03:53.019 And if you remember from last week, just like Simon the Pharisee, and just like the suffering 00:03:53.019 --> 00:03:57.759 woman, this widow that we read about, she was also a sinner. 00:03:58.519 --> 00:04:06.000 She was a member of God's people who had constantly failed to fulfill his purposes for them. 00:04:07.459 --> 00:04:12.579 If you remember from Deuteronomy, our last series, God had called his people to be this 00:04:12.580 --> 00:04:22.720 light, this beacon of hope to reflect his character, to reflect his love, to reflect his blessings. 00:04:23.080 --> 00:04:25.319 But they were not able to fulfill that. 00:04:25.379 --> 00:04:32.819 And here she was, this widow, her homeland under the rule of this foreign occupying force 00:04:32.819 --> 00:04:40.060 called the Romans, and also personally facing the loss of her only son. 00:04:42.680 --> 00:04:51.100 And to understand just how devastating and just how terrible this loss was, we really have to kind 00:04:51.100 --> 00:04:54.760 of roll back a bit and understand first century culture. 00:04:55.480 --> 00:04:59.220 We need to understand the status of women in that culture. 00:04:59.340 --> 00:05:02.580 And some of you, I'm sure, have heard and read about this. 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:09.700 In that time, women were very much dependent on the men in their lives to provide. 00:05:10.840 --> 00:05:15.460 There were very few openings for women to actually earn a living. 00:05:15.459 --> 00:05:21.339 So the obvious role of provider would have fallen to her husband. 00:05:22.459 --> 00:05:25.539 But as the text says, she's a widow. 00:05:26.500 --> 00:05:28.399 She has no husband anymore. 00:05:29.599 --> 00:05:33.060 And then another key person would have then been her son. 00:05:34.979 --> 00:05:40.479 But obviously, here we see that her only son has just died. 00:05:42.259 --> 00:05:43.599 So think about this. 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:52.360 On top of this kind of decimation of her economic security, she's obviously suffering through the 00:05:52.360 --> 00:05:54.740 actual loss of family. 00:05:55.740 --> 00:06:01.120 She faces not only sorrow and poverty, but also loneliness. 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:09.020 She also faces the knowledge that her family line has now been cut off. 00:06:09.019 --> 00:06:19.579 And the text doesn't tell us in detail, but maybe you can imagine, imagine with me, what could this 00:06:19.579 --> 00:06:23.339 woman be thinking and feeling in this moment? 00:06:23.339 --> 00:06:32.639 I think if I was her, maybe I'd be feeling, has God abandoned me? 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:35.459 Has God forgotten me? 00:06:38.099 --> 00:06:46.519 Maybe she's even feeling a sense of shame that her loved ones, the closest to her, are dying around her. 00:06:46.519 --> 00:06:47.519 Maybe she's even feeling a little bit. 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:48.519 Maybe she's feeling a little bit. 00:06:48.519 --> 00:06:49.120 Maybe she feels cursed. 00:06:50.359 --> 00:06:54.259 She has the stench of death on her life. 00:06:56.579 --> 00:06:58.459 So this is the woman. 00:06:59.779 --> 00:07:04.979 This is the widow who is in the middle of this big funeral procession. 00:07:05.919 --> 00:07:11.180 A crowd that Luke, in writing this, he describes it as large. 00:07:11.180 --> 00:07:19.139 Now, in that culture, in that ancient culture, funerals were a really big deal. 00:07:20.379 --> 00:07:26.139 It was such a big deal that the study of the Torah, which was God's law, and one of the 00:07:26.139 --> 00:07:34.399 most unassailable, most important pursuits in life, even the study of the Torah was kind 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:36.620 of suspended when there was a funeral. 00:07:36.620 --> 00:07:41.220 And you had to drop that, and you had to go to the funeral. 00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:48.139 In the town of Nain, where this is taking part, where this is taking place, the town of Nain 00:07:48.139 --> 00:07:55.240 had probably had around 300 to 500 inhabitants, and pretty much every one of them would have 00:07:55.240 --> 00:07:56.360 been expected to go. 00:07:57.060 --> 00:07:58.120 It was a big deal. 00:07:58.120 --> 00:08:05.459 But also, because of the public nature of this funeral, with all these people, basically the 00:08:05.459 --> 00:08:12.180 entire town coming out to the procession, there would have also been this impersonal, 00:08:12.300 --> 00:08:14.759 this impersonal nature of it all. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:17.840 There would have been flute players. 00:08:19.780 --> 00:08:20.860 This or this. 00:08:21.480 --> 00:08:26.620 Flute players, professional flute players at that time, that would have been part of the 00:08:26.620 --> 00:08:27.220 procession. 00:08:27.459 --> 00:08:33.759 There would have been professional, mourning women accompanying the procession. 00:08:33.799 --> 00:08:36.600 And this was a real profession at that time. 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:46.560 The women would weep and wail loudly, encouraging the people around to lament and weep with them. 00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:55.939 And you see these professionals later in chapter 8, if you read on, and there's another situation where 00:08:55.939 --> 00:09:03.500 Jairus' daughter is dead, and Jesus says, oh, she's not dead, she's just asleep. 00:09:04.299 --> 00:09:06.500 And the mourning women start laughing at him. 00:09:07.739 --> 00:09:09.519 And they're like, you're stupid. 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:10.859 And then they go back to mourning. 00:09:11.259 --> 00:09:12.759 So obviously, this was a profession. 00:09:13.019 --> 00:09:14.519 They weren't personally mourning. 00:09:14.519 --> 00:09:16.639 It was their job to mourn. 00:09:16.699 --> 00:09:21.019 So they could go from mourning to laughing at Jesus to back to mourning again. 00:09:21.620 --> 00:09:24.079 So there was this impersonal nature. 00:09:25.179 --> 00:09:26.960 There was work happening there. 00:09:27.039 --> 00:09:30.600 There were just people that were obliged to be in the crowds. 00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:37.460 And even a poor family at that time was expected to have at least one mourning woman and at least two 00:09:37.460 --> 00:09:40.559 flute players, according to the custom. 00:09:40.559 --> 00:09:49.759 So if you can visualize this scene with me, this crowd of townspeople and professionals, 00:09:50.619 --> 00:09:53.299 you can imagine it was maybe a bit of a spectacle. 00:09:54.959 --> 00:10:04.439 Surely not everyone was there because they genuinely wanted to be, often as we would expect in funerals today. 00:10:04.440 --> 00:10:10.400 It was really a hodgepodge of people coming out of the town gates of Nain. 00:10:11.320 --> 00:10:16.380 Which happened, the town gates was also an official meeting place for the area. 00:10:16.580 --> 00:10:21.020 So there may also have been people just there about their business. 00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:25.980 A really busy environment, if you can imagine with me. 00:10:25.980 --> 00:10:33.840 So it is here, in this chaos, in this busyness, with a large crowd of people around him, 00:10:34.019 --> 00:10:37.800 that Jesus intersects with this funeral procession. 00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:44.259 The Greek word that Luke uses describing the crowd that is following Jesus 00:10:44.259 --> 00:10:48.720 can actually be translated, a great multitude. 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:54.659 And that's the same description for the crowd when Jesus fed the 5,000. 00:10:54.659 --> 00:11:00.459 So it is entirely possible that the crowd following Jesus 00:11:00.459 --> 00:11:03.980 easily could have been over 1,000 people. 00:11:04.339 --> 00:11:05.379 That's a lot of people. 00:11:06.439 --> 00:11:08.539 So if you can visualize with me, 00:11:08.699 --> 00:11:14.699 there's this funeral procession coming out of the eastern side of Nain, 00:11:15.500 --> 00:11:16.959 coming through the gates, 00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:22.339 wailing women, flute players, people just following, being there, 00:11:22.340 --> 00:11:25.639 coming out of the gates of Nain. 00:11:26.860 --> 00:11:28.840 And then coming from the east, 00:11:29.860 --> 00:11:32.259 Jesus, from the last stop that he made. 00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:35.320 He's coming, he's teaching, he's preaching, 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:36.780 he's seen as this teacher. 00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:39.360 There's maybe 1,000 people following him. 00:11:39.620 --> 00:11:41.040 He's approaching the gates. 00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:44.200 And this is where they intersect. 00:11:44.200 --> 00:11:49.640 And I found this kind of pretty cool image, 00:11:50.379 --> 00:11:54.340 an artist, perhaps a rendition of what it might have looked at. 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:58.660 And no idea how historically accurate this is, obviously, 00:11:58.860 --> 00:12:03.560 but with the colors, just the people, 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:05.620 I hope this helps you just picture, 00:12:06.300 --> 00:12:08.020 there would have been a lot of people there. 00:12:08.800 --> 00:12:10.100 A lot of people. 00:12:10.100 --> 00:12:17.340 And it's in this busy crowd of possibly thousands of people 00:12:17.340 --> 00:12:20.259 that Jesus does something profound. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:24.580 And guys, this is a short passage of Scripture, 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:28.500 but these are details that I think I often overlook, 00:12:28.620 --> 00:12:31.600 and we can easily overlook when we just kind of read through 00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:33.779 and gloss over quickly. 00:12:34.660 --> 00:12:37.160 So let's kind of walk through this step by step. 00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:40.579 So I don't know about you, 00:12:40.759 --> 00:12:43.299 but when I'm walking around Hong Kong, 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:47.759 I'm usually trying to just avoid hitting people. 00:12:48.759 --> 00:12:51.439 I'm just trying to get from point A to point B, 00:12:52.419 --> 00:12:54.600 you know, dodge around those annoying people 00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:56.439 who have their heads down like this. 00:12:57.459 --> 00:12:59.860 And I confess sometimes those people are me. 00:13:00.500 --> 00:13:02.360 And then I feel like I'm right, 00:13:02.539 --> 00:13:04.419 and people are wrong when they get in my way. 00:13:04.419 --> 00:13:07.759 And I'm not really kind of stopping 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:10.179 and thinking about what's going on, you know? 00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:12.679 It's a busy, fast-paced world. 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:15.779 I want to get to the place I need to be and not be late. 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:21.099 But here's the first thing that we see when we read the text. 00:13:22.019 --> 00:13:25.399 We read that Jesus sees the widow. 00:13:26.079 --> 00:13:26.839 Now think about it. 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:31.639 In order for Jesus to really see someone in a crowd of 400, 00:13:31.639 --> 00:13:37.379 I mean, this is a crowd of over 100 before me right now, 00:13:37.559 --> 00:13:39.699 and I have a hard time seeing some of you guys. 00:13:40.860 --> 00:13:42.240 It's easy for you to see me. 00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:44.139 I'm kind of sticking out like a sore thumb. 00:13:44.919 --> 00:13:49.519 But I really have to focus at some of you guys to really see you. 00:13:49.779 --> 00:13:52.939 So Jesus must have been looking intently. 00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:56.740 His mind would have had to stop 00:13:56.740 --> 00:14:00.720 and think about what he was really looking at. 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:05.320 This procession that was unfolding before his eyes, 00:14:05.460 --> 00:14:08.159 it wasn't just like that video montage we just saw. 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:09.600 You know, a bunch of news clips, 00:14:10.060 --> 00:14:11.120 a bunch of bad news, 00:14:11.180 --> 00:14:12.200 and then you forget about it. 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:14.580 You switch the channel to ETV or something like that 00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:17.000 and think about whatever else. 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:24.559 Jesus actually sees the suffering at the center of this crowd. 00:14:25.399 --> 00:14:26.419 He sees. 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:29.320 The second thing. 00:14:30.299 --> 00:14:31.940 What does Jesus do next? 00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:37.419 The text says his heart went out to her. 00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:40.039 His heart went out to her. 00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:44.099 It's not just his attention going to her, 00:14:44.219 --> 00:14:49.599 but it's his love, his care, his concern, his feelings. 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:55.139 A more literal translation is that he felt compassion. 00:14:56.659 --> 00:14:59.039 And the Greek word, it carries this sense 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:03.120 that you're actually deeply affected in your bowels. 00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:04.319 That deep. 00:15:05.839 --> 00:15:08.679 And you're affected in your inner being. 00:15:08.679 --> 00:15:10.419 There's sympathy. 00:15:10.659 --> 00:15:11.539 There's empathy. 00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:13.379 There's compassion. 00:15:14.419 --> 00:15:19.739 Jesus feels like he is suffering with the widow. 00:15:20.500 --> 00:15:21.979 That's what compassion means. 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:25.479 So he sees. 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:27.839 He has compassion. 00:15:28.839 --> 00:15:32.979 And thirdly, it's not just that his heart goes out to her, 00:15:33.979 --> 00:15:37.899 but it's clear that he physically goes to her. 00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:38.679 He acts. 00:15:39.779 --> 00:15:43.480 So that he can now say these very interesting words to her. 00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:45.220 Don't cry. 00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:48.500 A more formal translation would be, 00:15:48.819 --> 00:15:49.659 do not weep. 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:51.799 Interesting. 00:15:52.959 --> 00:15:54.240 Now, in that moment, 00:15:54.699 --> 00:15:56.100 you'd probably be thinking, 00:15:56.319 --> 00:15:57.679 if you were eavesdropping, 00:15:58.939 --> 00:16:00.600 Jesus, that's so insensitive. 00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:05.500 How can you tell a woman who's just lost her husband 00:16:05.500 --> 00:16:09.240 and her only son to not cry? 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:13.540 She has professional criers for crying out loud. 00:16:13.980 --> 00:16:14.300 Right? 00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:15.800 Jesus. 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:17.420 Come on, man. 00:16:17.480 --> 00:16:18.080 Get it together. 00:16:18.940 --> 00:16:20.080 I would never do that. 00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:23.420 You would chastise your husband if he said that. 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:26.300 You would chastise your wife if she said something like that 00:16:26.300 --> 00:16:27.100 at a funeral. 00:16:27.100 --> 00:16:31.019 But guys, 00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:32.420 Jesus isn't just some schmuck 00:16:32.420 --> 00:16:34.759 who's kind of throwing out some empty platitudes, 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:36.200 some nice words of comfort 00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:38.060 so that he can feel like he's done his duty 00:16:38.060 --> 00:16:39.139 and move on. 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:40.960 Obviously not. 00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:43.600 Just one chapter ago, 00:16:43.680 --> 00:16:45.360 he told his disciples this. 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:46.000 He said, 00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:49.200 Blessed are you who weep now, 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:51.540 for you will laugh. 00:16:53.560 --> 00:16:55.759 Blessed are you who weep now, 00:16:55.980 --> 00:16:57.259 for you will laugh. 00:16:57.820 --> 00:17:01.379 And Jesus can say that word of comfort to the woman 00:17:01.379 --> 00:17:04.279 because he knows that he is literally 00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:06.000 about to demonstrate that. 00:17:08.120 --> 00:17:09.140 So fourthly, 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:10.480 what does Jesus do? 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:14.599 He actually goes up to the bier. 00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:15.460 He acts. 00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:19.299 And the bier is basically an open coffin. 00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:21.819 So the body would have been completely visible. 00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:25.640 So that's actually accurate in that sense. 00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:27.660 An open coffin, 00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:28.779 and he touches it. 00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:30.920 He touches it. 00:17:30.920 --> 00:17:34.160 And this was another inappropriate thing 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:36.640 that's a really inappropriate thing to do 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:37.840 because it would have broken 00:17:37.840 --> 00:17:41.580 all the Jewish ceremonial purity laws. 00:17:41.700 --> 00:17:41.820 You know, 00:17:41.860 --> 00:17:44.860 you were not supposed to be touching dead bodies. 00:17:46.980 --> 00:17:48.800 But if you read the New Testament, 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:50.140 when you read the Gospels, 00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:51.800 you'll see over and over again 00:17:51.800 --> 00:17:52.320 that Jesus, 00:17:52.539 --> 00:17:55.680 when it comes to actual human suffering, 00:17:55.900 --> 00:17:57.779 actual human need, 00:17:58.580 --> 00:18:00.440 when those things are at stake, 00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:04.519 he didn't worry about ceremonial matters. 00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:10.360 And so he commands the man 00:18:10.360 --> 00:18:12.420 to return to life. 00:18:13.860 --> 00:18:14.480 He says, 00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:15.140 get up. 00:18:16.120 --> 00:18:18.440 And he demonstrates his authority, 00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:20.940 his power over death. 00:18:22.900 --> 00:18:23.980 Now at this point, 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:25.800 if I were Jesus, 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:27.180 I think this would have been 00:18:27.180 --> 00:18:28.560 a great kind of end of the movie 00:18:28.560 --> 00:18:30.060 or end of a great scene. 00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:31.859 and just drop the mic 00:18:31.859 --> 00:18:32.440 and you'd be like, 00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:33.480 that's right. 00:18:34.159 --> 00:18:35.639 And you just walk out, right? 00:18:36.179 --> 00:18:37.200 That's how I would do it 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:38.339 if I was a Hollywood actor. 00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:42.220 That would have been kind of cool, right? 00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:45.480 That would have left the spotlight, 00:18:45.679 --> 00:18:46.559 the limelight, 00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:48.579 the glory to Jesus. 00:18:50.379 --> 00:18:51.559 But there's one last thing 00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:52.559 that Jesus does. 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:55.019 Number five, 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:56.919 he gives the son 00:18:56.919 --> 00:18:58.539 back to the mother. 00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:01.220 Interesting. 00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:03.339 Because I'm pretty sure 00:19:03.339 --> 00:19:04.599 the son and the mother 00:19:04.599 --> 00:19:05.700 would have found each other. 00:19:07.139 --> 00:19:08.179 I'm pretty sure 00:19:08.179 --> 00:19:09.259 she would have been, 00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:10.980 she would have realized 00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:12.220 that she wasn't dead anymore. 00:19:12.339 --> 00:19:13.220 Because the text actually says 00:19:13.220 --> 00:19:14.019 he started talking. 00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:19.180 Why does Jesus do that? 00:19:20.879 --> 00:19:21.879 I think the thing 00:19:21.879 --> 00:19:23.960 that is amazing 00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:26.680 is that the most important thing 00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:28.319 in this whole interaction 00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:29.879 is not that Jesus 00:19:29.879 --> 00:19:30.960 did this miracle, 00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:32.859 as amazing as that 00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:34.700 in and of itself is. 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:38.200 The most important thing 00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:41.079 is that Jesus saw the widow. 00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:43.659 He felt compassion 00:19:43.659 --> 00:19:45.199 for the widow. 00:19:46.379 --> 00:19:48.720 He went to the widow. 00:19:50.740 --> 00:19:52.059 He spoke, 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:53.980 he comforted the widow. 00:19:55.399 --> 00:19:57.879 And he returned the son 00:19:57.879 --> 00:19:59.619 to the widow. 00:20:00.299 --> 00:20:02.559 And in this entire movement, 00:20:02.879 --> 00:20:03.679 this pattern, 00:20:04.099 --> 00:20:04.919 this action, 00:20:05.339 --> 00:20:07.980 the center of Jesus' attention 00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:09.519 is who? 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:11.400 The widow. 00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:13.460 The sufferer. 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:16.639 And this is the principle 00:20:16.639 --> 00:20:18.460 that comes out so clearly 00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:19.279 when we meditate 00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:22.180 and we look at Jesus' action. 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:24.779 That those who suffer 00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:26.039 are at the center, 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:28.579 the center of Jesus' attention. 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:34.519 So how are each and every one of us 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:35.339 suffering today? 00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:37.879 How do we bring this 00:20:37.879 --> 00:20:38.779 to our world, 00:20:38.939 --> 00:20:40.159 to our lives today? 00:20:42.199 --> 00:20:42.720 Indeed, 00:20:42.899 --> 00:20:43.459 some of you 00:20:43.459 --> 00:20:44.439 may have suffered 00:20:44.439 --> 00:20:45.459 great loss. 00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:48.939 Deaths of loved ones. 00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:52.019 Loss of financial security, 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:53.119 just like the widow. 00:20:54.199 --> 00:20:56.019 I'm sure some of you 00:20:56.019 --> 00:20:57.559 and people close to you 00:20:57.559 --> 00:20:58.419 have gone through that. 00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:01.480 Others of you 00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:03.379 may have never faced 00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:05.080 this kind of suffering, 00:21:05.340 --> 00:21:06.920 like just completely similar 00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:09.060 or analogous to the widow. 00:21:09.880 --> 00:21:11.040 But if you consider 00:21:11.040 --> 00:21:12.800 all the various dimensions 00:21:12.800 --> 00:21:13.620 and facets 00:21:13.620 --> 00:21:14.940 of the widow's suffering 00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:16.720 and the widow's experience, 00:21:16.820 --> 00:21:18.660 I think we can all relate 00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:19.300 in some way. 00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:20.880 We can all see 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:22.840 how her experience 00:21:22.840 --> 00:21:24.500 reflects and touches 00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:26.020 our lives in some way. 00:21:26.820 --> 00:21:28.500 I think we all suffer 00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:30.720 loneliness in some way. 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:32.700 we all face 00:21:32.700 --> 00:21:33.620 the uncertainty 00:21:33.620 --> 00:21:35.180 when things happen 00:21:35.180 --> 00:21:35.880 in our lives 00:21:35.880 --> 00:21:36.980 and whether we'll be able 00:21:36.980 --> 00:21:38.500 to fulfill our potential, 00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:40.400 whether we'll be able 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:41.220 to make it, 00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:42.200 to make a living, 00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:43.019 to survive, 00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:44.160 to thrive, 00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:44.980 to flourish. 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:47.680 We all wrestle 00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:48.779 with our ultimate 00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:50.019 significance 00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:51.500 and maybe 00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:52.339 sometimes 00:21:52.339 --> 00:21:53.480 we even wonder, 00:21:54.600 --> 00:21:56.079 perhaps like the widow did, 00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:57.140 God, 00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:58.339 have you forgotten me? 00:21:58.339 --> 00:22:01.639 God, you seem far away. 00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:06.019 And when catastrophe hits, 00:22:06.639 --> 00:22:07.799 like it did for the widow, 00:22:07.919 --> 00:22:09.079 these questions and doubts 00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:10.359 are often just amplified. 00:22:11.099 --> 00:22:13.119 But even in the day-to-day, 00:22:13.399 --> 00:22:14.139 in the mundane, 00:22:14.619 --> 00:22:16.079 I believe we all face 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:17.439 suffering and sorrow 00:22:17.439 --> 00:22:18.740 in its various forms. 00:22:19.439 --> 00:22:21.799 We're either directly suffering 00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:24.199 or we know somebody 00:22:24.199 --> 00:22:25.480 close to us, 00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:27.519 a loved one 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:28.640 who is going through it 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:29.380 and you are just 00:22:29.380 --> 00:22:30.759 grieving with them. 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:33.120 Or you realize, 00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:34.660 even if you're not suffering 00:22:34.660 --> 00:22:36.299 in the moment right now, 00:22:36.380 --> 00:22:37.620 that any moment 00:22:37.620 --> 00:22:38.660 in this broken, 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:39.900 imperfect, 00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:41.259 sinful, 00:22:41.700 --> 00:22:44.160 financial crisis-prone world, 00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:45.779 that at any time 00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:47.220 disaster can strike, 00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:49.599 health, 00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:52.799 accidents, 00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:55.120 financial crises, 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:57.360 could hit at any time. 00:23:00.140 --> 00:23:01.160 And when we look 00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:02.500 at the widow's suffering, 00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:03.640 when we kind of think 00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:04.640 about her mental 00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:06.000 and emotional state, 00:23:06.099 --> 00:23:06.480 there's something 00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:07.519 really interesting 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.539 we can learn from. 00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:10.220 You see, 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:11.360 in modern times, 00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:12.640 we often think about 00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:13.759 life and death 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:15.339 as kind of a binary state. 00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:16.099 I mean, 00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:18.400 it's pretty obvious, 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:18.819 you know, 00:23:19.160 --> 00:23:19.779 generally, 00:23:19.960 --> 00:23:21.140 that you're either alive 00:23:21.140 --> 00:23:22.420 or you're dead. 00:23:23.420 --> 00:23:24.819 But in Hebrew culture, 00:23:24.819 --> 00:23:26.879 in that Jewish culture, 00:23:26.879 --> 00:23:27.599 there was actually 00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:30.220 this third in-between state, 00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:32.200 a state between life 00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:33.439 and death. 00:23:36.639 --> 00:23:37.919 In this state, 00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:39.179 a person was considered 00:23:39.179 --> 00:23:40.079 half dead. 00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:41.779 Half dead. 00:23:42.519 --> 00:23:44.000 Not in a physical sense, 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:44.700 not in the sense 00:23:44.700 --> 00:23:45.319 that the widow 00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:46.119 had been beaten 00:23:46.119 --> 00:23:47.440 half dead, 00:23:47.940 --> 00:23:49.259 but because she had 00:23:49.259 --> 00:23:50.480 suffered such 00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:52.059 a catastrophic, 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:54.180 life-altering loss 00:23:54.180 --> 00:23:55.660 that she had entered 00:23:55.660 --> 00:23:56.759 into this state 00:23:56.759 --> 00:23:58.240 of living death. 00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:02.019 That was her mindset. 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:03.200 And interesting, right? 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:05.279 Because in the New Testament, 00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:06.599 we read that 00:24:06.599 --> 00:24:07.900 we are dead 00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:09.220 in the sins 00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:10.500 in which we walk. 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:12.259 We are dead 00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:13.099 in the sins 00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:14.299 in which we walk 00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:15.539 following the course 00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:16.299 of this world. 00:24:17.859 --> 00:24:18.220 You see, 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:19.859 our sin and separation, 00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:21.380 the writers 00:24:21.380 --> 00:24:22.259 of the New Testament 00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:22.700 say, 00:24:23.160 --> 00:24:24.640 our sin and separation 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:25.319 from God 00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:26.359 actually put us 00:24:26.359 --> 00:24:27.019 in a state 00:24:27.019 --> 00:24:28.019 of living death. 00:24:29.779 --> 00:24:30.839 When I'm walking 00:24:30.839 --> 00:24:31.579 in my sin, 00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:33.299 I'm basically a zombie. 00:24:33.640 --> 00:24:34.839 I'm like the walking dead. 00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:37.319 We are physically alive. 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:38.720 I'm alive, 00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:40.220 but spiritually dead 00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:41.220 and destined 00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:43.039 for eternal death. 00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:45.380 So when we think 00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:46.240 about suffering, 00:24:46.339 --> 00:24:46.799 when we kind of 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:48.200 take a step back 00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:49.480 and we actually 00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:50.380 look at our lives 00:24:50.380 --> 00:24:51.980 on an eternal scale, 00:24:52.940 --> 00:24:53.519 the suffering 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.860 is just as clear 00:24:54.860 --> 00:24:56.019 and maybe even more. 00:24:57.640 --> 00:24:58.480 God's Word says 00:24:58.480 --> 00:24:59.039 that each 00:24:59.039 --> 00:25:00.039 and every one of us 00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:00.819 has this sense 00:25:00.819 --> 00:25:02.700 of eternity in us. 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:03.700 It's the sense 00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:04.880 that you have 00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:06.299 deep, deep down 00:25:06.299 --> 00:25:07.759 that there is something, 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:09.119 there is something 00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:10.240 more to life 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:10.920 than wealth 00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:11.920 and status 00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:12.940 and comfort 00:25:12.940 --> 00:25:14.039 and relationship 00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:15.619 and anything else 00:25:15.619 --> 00:25:16.180 that we think 00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:17.059 will make us happy. 00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:20.200 It's that reality 00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:22.519 that all of those things 00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:24.000 will go to the grave 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.579 with us 00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:25.740 when we die. 00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:28.599 And there must be 00:25:28.599 --> 00:25:29.440 something more. 00:25:31.339 --> 00:25:32.400 God's Word says 00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:33.819 that we were created 00:25:33.819 --> 00:25:35.579 to worship God 00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:37.559 with our entire lives 00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:39.159 and for all of eternity. 00:25:40.159 --> 00:25:41.679 But when we chose 00:25:41.679 --> 00:25:43.139 to worship ourselves 00:25:43.139 --> 00:25:43.720 instead, 00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:46.399 when we turned away 00:25:46.399 --> 00:25:47.259 from God, 00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:48.579 selfishness, 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:49.460 sin, 00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:50.460 and death 00:25:50.460 --> 00:25:52.419 entered into our lives, 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:53.759 entered into this world. 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:57.379 So God's Word says 00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:58.759 that our separation 00:25:58.759 --> 00:25:59.619 from God 00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:00.759 is the ultimate 00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:01.720 suffering 00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:04.140 because we can 00:26:04.140 --> 00:26:04.860 no longer 00:26:04.860 --> 00:26:05.519 fulfill 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:06.779 the purpose 00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:08.620 of worshiping God. 00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:10.620 That's why 00:26:10.620 --> 00:26:11.740 from Deuteronomy, 00:26:11.860 --> 00:26:12.779 the last series, 00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:13.620 all the way 00:26:13.620 --> 00:26:14.240 to now 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:15.539 in Jesus' time, 00:26:16.140 --> 00:26:17.220 the people of God 00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:17.980 could not 00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:18.880 do it. 00:26:20.940 --> 00:26:22.220 They were suffering 00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:23.039 the inability 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:24.640 to live 00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:25.900 according to the way 00:26:25.900 --> 00:26:26.759 they were created. 00:26:28.120 --> 00:26:28.680 And instead, 00:26:28.860 --> 00:26:29.640 they were seeking 00:26:29.640 --> 00:26:30.460 and worshiping 00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:31.200 things that would 00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:32.140 never satisfy 00:26:32.140 --> 00:26:32.960 their souls. 00:26:34.380 --> 00:26:35.400 They had rejected 00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:35.840 God, 00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:37.520 the only one 00:26:37.520 --> 00:26:38.860 who can satisfy. 00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:42.600 So whether it's 00:26:42.600 --> 00:26:43.700 sort of present 00:26:43.700 --> 00:26:44.880 immediate suffering 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:45.720 or suffering 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:47.640 on an eternal scale, 00:26:48.580 --> 00:26:49.360 I want to ask 00:26:49.360 --> 00:26:50.300 you guys right now, 00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:51.460 and I want us 00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:52.280 to take a moment, 00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:55.300 think about 00:26:55.300 --> 00:26:57.000 what your suffering 00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:58.580 personally looks like 00:26:58.579 --> 00:26:59.099 right now. 00:27:00.879 --> 00:27:01.659 Whether it's 00:27:01.659 --> 00:27:02.099 physical 00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:03.599 or mental, 00:27:04.679 --> 00:27:05.379 emotional, 00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:06.220 spiritual, 00:27:06.939 --> 00:27:08.859 what does it 00:27:08.859 --> 00:27:09.359 look like? 00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:11.899 Is it a sickness 00:27:11.899 --> 00:27:13.379 or some condition 00:27:13.379 --> 00:27:14.099 that just won't 00:27:14.099 --> 00:27:14.659 go away? 00:27:17.319 --> 00:27:18.819 Is it anxiety 00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:20.220 and worry? 00:27:21.899 --> 00:27:22.659 Is it the fact 00:27:22.659 --> 00:27:23.399 that some days 00:27:23.399 --> 00:27:24.359 you just don't feel 00:27:24.359 --> 00:27:25.099 like anyone 00:27:25.099 --> 00:27:26.119 really knows 00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:27.299 and understands 00:27:27.299 --> 00:27:27.979 you? 00:27:29.139 --> 00:27:30.119 Not even your 00:27:30.119 --> 00:27:30.679 spouse 00:27:30.679 --> 00:27:32.799 or family member. 00:27:32.899 --> 00:27:33.779 They feel distant 00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:35.439 and you feel 00:27:35.439 --> 00:27:35.859 alone. 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:39.379 Is it a feeling 00:27:39.379 --> 00:27:40.359 of emptiness 00:27:40.359 --> 00:27:41.939 and discontentment? 00:27:43.419 --> 00:27:44.659 Is it just 00:27:44.659 --> 00:27:45.359 a sense 00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:46.239 in your gut 00:27:46.239 --> 00:27:47.059 that something's 00:27:47.059 --> 00:27:48.099 not quite right 00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:48.799 in life? 00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:52.359 Or is it just 00:27:52.359 --> 00:27:52.719 the fact 00:27:52.719 --> 00:27:53.819 that in some way 00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:55.279 everything you 00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:56.059 do 00:27:56.059 --> 00:27:57.539 and achieve 00:27:57.539 --> 00:27:58.339 in this life 00:27:58.339 --> 00:27:59.259 will fade away? 00:28:00.460 --> 00:28:00.939 And it all 00:28:00.939 --> 00:28:01.379 just seems 00:28:01.379 --> 00:28:02.299 pointless sometimes? 00:28:03.899 --> 00:28:04.480 That's one 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.200 that really gets 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:05.559 me. 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:06.500 You know, 00:28:06.539 --> 00:28:07.259 when I'm tired, 00:28:07.399 --> 00:28:08.099 when I'm busy, 00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:09.099 when I'm stressed, 00:28:10.099 --> 00:28:11.980 there's just 00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.679 that voice 00:28:12.679 --> 00:28:13.259 in my head 00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:13.859 that's just like, 00:28:13.980 --> 00:28:14.919 what is the point? 00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:17.240 Why even bother? 00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:17.319 other? 00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:21.620 So be honest 00:28:21.620 --> 00:28:22.259 with yourself 00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:22.799 right now. 00:28:24.680 --> 00:28:25.960 What is your 00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:26.519 suffering 00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:27.400 today? 00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:29.900 What is your 00:28:29.900 --> 00:28:30.240 suffering? 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:33.740 What is your 00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:34.079 suffering? 00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:39.620 In a busy 00:28:39.620 --> 00:28:40.319 and crowded 00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:41.160 place like 00:28:41.160 --> 00:28:41.819 Hong Kong, 00:28:42.839 --> 00:28:43.660 our suffering 00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:44.200 can seem 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:45.400 pretty insignificant, 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:45.960 right? 00:28:45.960 --> 00:28:48.120 Just like 00:28:48.120 --> 00:28:48.940 those massive 00:28:48.940 --> 00:28:49.840 crowds that 00:28:49.840 --> 00:28:50.759 converged 00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:51.819 at Nain, 00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:52.620 Hong Kong 00:28:52.620 --> 00:28:53.460 is a busy 00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:54.460 place. 00:28:54.700 --> 00:28:55.340 There's people 00:28:55.340 --> 00:28:56.500 everywhere, 00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:57.200 for better 00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:58.279 or for worse. 00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:00.700 There's so many 00:29:00.700 --> 00:29:01.360 people who are 00:29:01.360 --> 00:29:02.160 just going about 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:03.120 their own lives 00:29:03.120 --> 00:29:03.799 around us, 00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:04.319 each with their 00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:05.519 own busyness 00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:06.340 and their own 00:29:06.340 --> 00:29:07.420 personal agendas. 00:29:09.340 --> 00:29:09.799 The widow 00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:10.460 was one of 00:29:10.460 --> 00:29:11.840 400 residents 00:29:11.840 --> 00:29:12.940 of Nain. 00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:14.360 you are one 00:29:14.360 --> 00:29:15.019 of seven 00:29:15.019 --> 00:29:15.920 million 00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:16.860 residents 00:29:16.860 --> 00:29:17.799 of Hong Kong. 00:29:19.900 --> 00:29:21.100 Jesus saw 00:29:21.100 --> 00:29:21.600 the widow 00:29:21.600 --> 00:29:22.600 so clearly 00:29:22.600 --> 00:29:23.340 in her 00:29:23.340 --> 00:29:23.779 suffering. 00:29:26.380 --> 00:29:27.559 But do you 00:29:27.559 --> 00:29:27.900 know, 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:28.820 do you really 00:29:28.820 --> 00:29:30.240 know that 00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:31.320 God also 00:29:31.320 --> 00:29:32.400 sees every 00:29:32.400 --> 00:29:33.500 single one 00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:34.100 of us 00:29:34.100 --> 00:29:35.320 in our 00:29:35.320 --> 00:29:35.680 suffering? 00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:38.519 no matter 00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:39.779 how great 00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:40.980 or small 00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:41.519 you think 00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:42.039 your suffering 00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:42.299 is, 00:29:42.380 --> 00:29:43.120 he sees, 00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:44.759 he sees. 00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:47.779 See, 00:29:47.840 --> 00:29:48.440 the amazing 00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:49.060 thing about 00:29:49.060 --> 00:29:49.460 the widow 00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:49.920 of Nain, 00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:50.480 about this 00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:50.960 episode, 00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:53.100 is that 00:29:53.100 --> 00:29:54.039 Jesus sees 00:29:54.039 --> 00:29:55.000 every one 00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:55.500 of us 00:29:55.500 --> 00:29:56.340 in the same 00:29:56.340 --> 00:29:57.060 way that 00:29:57.060 --> 00:29:57.820 he sees 00:29:57.820 --> 00:29:58.539 the widow. 00:29:58.539 --> 00:30:00.539 The 00:30:00.539 --> 00:30:01.119 movement, 00:30:01.460 --> 00:30:02.059 the pattern 00:30:02.059 --> 00:30:02.500 that we 00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:03.139 saw with 00:30:03.139 --> 00:30:03.759 Jesus and 00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:04.099 the widow 00:30:04.099 --> 00:30:04.940 is exactly 00:30:04.940 --> 00:30:05.839 the same 00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:06.740 for us. 00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:07.519 And let me 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:07.940 show you 00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:08.259 how. 00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:10.879 The Bible, 00:30:11.079 --> 00:30:11.700 God's word 00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:12.359 says he 00:30:12.359 --> 00:30:13.339 tells us, 00:30:13.859 --> 00:30:14.659 he tells us 00:30:14.659 --> 00:30:15.259 that God 00:30:15.259 --> 00:30:16.159 knows the 00:30:16.159 --> 00:30:17.720 number of 00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:18.839 hairs on 00:30:18.839 --> 00:30:19.240 your head 00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:19.879 right now. 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:21.220 And if you 00:30:21.220 --> 00:30:21.579 don't have 00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:21.980 that much 00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:22.680 hair on 00:30:22.680 --> 00:30:22.980 your head 00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:23.399 right now, 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:23.899 he knows 00:30:23.899 --> 00:30:24.879 other intricate 00:30:24.879 --> 00:30:27.200 details of 00:30:27.200 --> 00:30:27.460 your, 00:30:27.460 --> 00:30:28.579 of your 00:30:28.579 --> 00:30:28.860 life. 00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:29.500 That's just 00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:30.480 an image. 00:30:31.259 --> 00:30:32.019 He knows. 00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:33.299 His word 00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:33.960 says that he 00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:34.880 searches the 00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:35.840 depths of 00:30:35.840 --> 00:30:36.340 your heart. 00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:39.059 Isn't that 00:30:39.059 --> 00:30:39.660 incredible? 00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:42.380 Every hair 00:30:42.380 --> 00:30:43.380 on your 00:30:43.380 --> 00:30:44.299 head right 00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:44.740 now. 00:30:47.140 --> 00:30:48.059 And like 00:30:48.059 --> 00:30:48.720 this story, 00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:49.799 it's not 00:30:49.799 --> 00:30:50.200 that he, 00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:50.840 just that he 00:30:50.840 --> 00:30:51.860 sees and 00:30:51.860 --> 00:30:52.539 he knows, 00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:53.720 but he has 00:30:53.720 --> 00:30:54.500 compassion 00:30:54.500 --> 00:30:55.860 for us. 00:30:57.460 --> 00:30:58.960 When Jesus 00:30:58.960 --> 00:30:59.620 looked at 00:30:59.620 --> 00:31:00.279 the people, 00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:01.960 he yearned, 00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:02.700 he said he 00:31:02.700 --> 00:31:03.279 yearned, 00:31:03.420 --> 00:31:04.140 he gathered, 00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:05.299 he wanted 00:31:05.299 --> 00:31:05.980 to gather 00:31:05.980 --> 00:31:06.400 them like 00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:06.960 a mother 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:07.500 hen, 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:08.819 gathering his 00:31:08.819 --> 00:31:09.380 brood of 00:31:09.380 --> 00:31:10.039 little chicks. 00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:12.100 Isn't that 00:31:12.100 --> 00:31:12.660 a beautiful 00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:13.880 picture of 00:31:13.880 --> 00:31:14.460 how God 00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:15.220 loves us? 00:31:15.460 --> 00:31:15.940 He wants 00:31:15.940 --> 00:31:16.380 to take 00:31:16.380 --> 00:31:16.840 care of 00:31:16.840 --> 00:31:17.079 us. 00:31:17.340 --> 00:31:18.019 He sees 00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:18.360 us. 00:31:18.759 --> 00:31:19.240 He has 00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:19.940 compassion 00:31:19.940 --> 00:31:20.840 for us. 00:31:20.839 --> 00:31:23.359 But like 00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:23.919 the story, 00:31:24.039 --> 00:31:24.319 it does 00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:25.019 not stop 00:31:25.019 --> 00:31:25.459 there, 00:31:25.919 --> 00:31:26.959 because God 00:31:26.959 --> 00:31:28.119 also took 00:31:28.119 --> 00:31:29.019 action. 00:31:30.039 --> 00:31:30.939 In the same 00:31:30.939 --> 00:31:31.699 way that he 00:31:31.699 --> 00:31:32.279 met the 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:32.759 widow where 00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:33.399 she was, 00:31:33.899 --> 00:31:34.779 Jesus meets 00:31:34.779 --> 00:31:35.819 us exactly 00:31:35.819 --> 00:31:37.039 where we 00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:37.419 are. 00:31:38.679 --> 00:31:39.199 And if you 00:31:39.199 --> 00:31:40.039 could appreciate 00:31:40.039 --> 00:31:40.899 just how 00:31:40.899 --> 00:31:41.919 controversial 00:31:41.919 --> 00:31:43.299 and how 00:31:43.299 --> 00:31:43.839 culturally 00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:44.659 inappropriate 00:31:44.659 --> 00:31:45.500 it was for 00:31:45.500 --> 00:31:46.480 Jesus to 00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:47.659 touch that 00:31:47.659 --> 00:31:48.159 coffin, 00:31:48.519 --> 00:31:49.079 that open 00:31:49.079 --> 00:31:49.819 coffin at 00:31:49.819 --> 00:31:50.119 Nain, 00:31:50.119 --> 00:31:51.659 think about 00:31:51.659 --> 00:31:52.119 this. 00:31:52.599 --> 00:31:53.639 How crazy, 00:31:53.979 --> 00:31:55.139 how scandalous 00:31:55.139 --> 00:31:56.239 is it for 00:31:56.239 --> 00:31:56.959 the God, 00:31:57.239 --> 00:31:58.439 the transcendent 00:31:58.439 --> 00:31:59.339 God of the 00:31:59.339 --> 00:31:59.819 universe, 00:32:00.479 --> 00:32:01.979 to come to 00:32:01.979 --> 00:32:02.779 us in 00:32:02.779 --> 00:32:04.459 human form 00:32:04.459 --> 00:32:05.859 in the 00:32:05.859 --> 00:32:06.439 person of 00:32:06.439 --> 00:32:07.259 Jesus Christ? 00:32:07.639 --> 00:32:08.159 Would you 00:32:08.159 --> 00:32:08.839 do that 00:32:08.839 --> 00:32:09.639 if you 00:32:09.639 --> 00:32:10.159 were God? 00:32:11.679 --> 00:32:12.399 That's 00:32:12.399 --> 00:32:13.119 scandalous. 00:32:14.419 --> 00:32:15.099 That's 00:32:15.099 --> 00:32:15.759 crazy. 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:18.319 And the 00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:19.579 people in 00:32:19.579 --> 00:32:19.919 in that 00:32:19.919 --> 00:32:20.519 story who 00:32:20.519 --> 00:32:21.039 witnessed 00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:21.439 that 00:32:21.439 --> 00:32:21.859 miracle, 00:32:22.039 --> 00:32:22.139 they 00:32:22.139 --> 00:32:22.619 declared, 00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:23.539 God has 00:32:23.539 --> 00:32:24.359 come to 00:32:24.359 --> 00:32:25.099 help us. 00:32:26.139 --> 00:32:26.759 And that 00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:27.379 is certainly 00:32:27.379 --> 00:32:28.159 true because 00:32:28.159 --> 00:32:28.759 they thought 00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:29.559 Jesus was a 00:32:29.559 --> 00:32:30.240 great prophet 00:32:30.240 --> 00:32:30.679 that was 00:32:30.679 --> 00:32:31.740 speaking and 00:32:31.740 --> 00:32:32.339 acting on 00:32:32.339 --> 00:32:32.879 behalf of 00:32:32.879 --> 00:32:33.199 God. 00:32:33.439 --> 00:32:34.059 But even 00:32:34.059 --> 00:32:34.559 then they 00:32:34.559 --> 00:32:35.259 didn't realize 00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:35.839 the full 00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:37.220 truth that 00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:38.000 Jesus wasn't 00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:38.619 just a great 00:32:38.619 --> 00:32:39.079 teacher. 00:32:39.899 --> 00:32:40.759 He was God 00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:41.419 himself, 00:32:41.899 --> 00:32:42.779 visiting his 00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:43.220 people, 00:32:43.639 --> 00:32:44.460 dwelling with 00:32:44.460 --> 00:32:44.980 them, 00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:45.899 and walking 00:32:45.899 --> 00:32:47.019 alongside them. 00:32:47.019 --> 00:32:47.079 them. 00:32:49.720 --> 00:32:50.440 You see, 00:32:50.519 --> 00:32:50.980 at some 00:32:50.980 --> 00:32:51.619 point in 00:32:51.619 --> 00:32:52.500 every one 00:32:52.500 --> 00:32:52.900 of our 00:32:52.900 --> 00:32:53.400 lives, 00:32:53.900 --> 00:32:55.319 we ask a 00:32:55.319 --> 00:32:56.119 question like 00:32:56.119 --> 00:32:56.539 this. 00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:58.579 I've asked 00:32:58.579 --> 00:32:59.119 it myself. 00:32:59.279 --> 00:32:59.660 I'm sure 00:32:59.660 --> 00:33:00.160 you've asked 00:33:00.160 --> 00:33:00.740 it in some 00:33:00.740 --> 00:33:01.539 shape or 00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:01.799 form. 00:33:01.859 --> 00:33:02.440 You ask, 00:33:03.400 --> 00:33:03.839 if God 00:33:03.839 --> 00:33:04.740 loves us, 00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:06.259 and God 00:33:06.259 --> 00:33:06.940 is really 00:33:06.940 --> 00:33:07.839 God, 00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:09.859 then why 00:33:09.859 --> 00:33:10.339 doesn't he 00:33:10.339 --> 00:33:11.480 do something 00:33:11.480 --> 00:33:12.319 about all 00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:13.000 the suffering 00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:13.839 in the 00:33:13.839 --> 00:33:14.099 world? 00:33:14.099 --> 00:33:14.699 Why doesn't 00:33:14.699 --> 00:33:15.079 he do 00:33:15.079 --> 00:33:15.519 something 00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:16.179 about my 00:33:16.179 --> 00:33:16.980 suffering? 00:33:20.459 --> 00:33:21.179 And I've 00:33:21.179 --> 00:33:21.679 thought about 00:33:21.679 --> 00:33:22.459 that question, 00:33:23.179 --> 00:33:23.939 and I try to 00:33:23.939 --> 00:33:24.579 think about the 00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:25.419 times that I 00:33:25.419 --> 00:33:25.899 was really 00:33:25.899 --> 00:33:26.359 suffering. 00:33:26.719 --> 00:33:27.419 I try to put 00:33:27.419 --> 00:33:28.159 myself in the 00:33:28.159 --> 00:33:29.199 shoes of the 00:33:29.199 --> 00:33:29.579 suffering, 00:33:29.699 --> 00:33:30.619 and this is 00:33:30.619 --> 00:33:30.959 what I 00:33:30.959 --> 00:33:31.599 realized. 00:33:32.559 --> 00:33:33.599 The origin 00:33:33.599 --> 00:33:34.599 of suffering 00:33:34.599 --> 00:33:36.179 is freedom 00:33:36.179 --> 00:33:36.659 and free 00:33:36.659 --> 00:33:36.899 will. 00:33:38.079 --> 00:33:38.559 It's the 00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:39.399 choices that I 00:33:39.399 --> 00:33:40.019 have made 00:33:40.019 --> 00:33:40.759 and the 00:33:40.759 --> 00:33:41.480 choices that 00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:42.459 others have 00:33:42.459 --> 00:33:42.819 made. 00:33:42.819 --> 00:33:44.419 it's the 00:33:44.419 --> 00:33:44.939 collective 00:33:44.939 --> 00:33:46.019 choices of 00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:47.359 all humanity 00:33:47.359 --> 00:33:48.319 throughout 00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:48.839 history. 00:33:49.019 --> 00:33:49.359 Just think 00:33:49.359 --> 00:33:49.759 about that 00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:51.179 video and 00:33:51.179 --> 00:33:51.599 how that 00:33:51.599 --> 00:33:52.139 came about. 00:33:53.399 --> 00:33:54.000 And as 00:33:54.000 --> 00:33:54.879 difficult as 00:33:54.879 --> 00:33:55.339 it is in 00:33:55.339 --> 00:33:55.740 the moment, 00:33:55.879 --> 00:33:56.460 I know that 00:33:56.460 --> 00:33:57.500 if I'm 00:33:57.500 --> 00:33:58.179 really honest 00:33:58.179 --> 00:33:58.960 with myself, 00:33:59.859 --> 00:34:00.839 it is that 00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:01.659 freedom, that 00:34:01.659 --> 00:34:02.559 free will that 00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:03.740 makes me 00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:04.519 human. 00:34:05.960 --> 00:34:06.839 I don't want 00:34:06.839 --> 00:34:07.179 to be a 00:34:07.179 --> 00:34:07.399 robot. 00:34:08.539 --> 00:34:09.460 I don't want 00:34:09.460 --> 00:34:09.960 the entire 00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:10.579 world to be 00:34:10.579 --> 00:34:11.360 robots that 00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:12.420 aren't capable 00:34:12.420 --> 00:34:13.500 of choosing. 00:34:14.500 --> 00:34:15.400 Because robots 00:34:15.400 --> 00:34:16.300 cannot love. 00:34:17.599 --> 00:34:18.380 Robots don't 00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:18.940 really know 00:34:18.940 --> 00:34:19.680 what is good. 00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:21.079 They cannot 00:34:21.079 --> 00:34:22.760 comprehend that. 00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:23.260 And if I'm 00:34:23.260 --> 00:34:23.920 being honest 00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:24.619 with myself, 00:34:24.720 --> 00:34:25.119 in those 00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:26.079 times of 00:34:26.079 --> 00:34:26.500 suffering, 00:34:26.680 --> 00:34:27.099 I don't 00:34:27.099 --> 00:34:27.599 want to 00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:28.099 become a 00:34:28.099 --> 00:34:28.360 robot. 00:34:29.079 --> 00:34:29.500 I don't 00:34:29.500 --> 00:34:29.860 want the 00:34:29.860 --> 00:34:30.280 world to 00:34:30.280 --> 00:34:31.079 become robots. 00:34:31.240 --> 00:34:31.720 I want 00:34:31.720 --> 00:34:33.039 someone to 00:34:33.039 --> 00:34:33.980 come and 00:34:33.980 --> 00:34:35.200 grieve with 00:34:35.200 --> 00:34:35.579 me. 00:34:35.579 --> 00:34:39.400 tell me that 00:34:39.400 --> 00:34:39.980 they know 00:34:39.980 --> 00:34:40.699 how I 00:34:40.699 --> 00:34:41.480 feel because 00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:42.059 they've been 00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:42.599 through it. 00:34:43.360 --> 00:34:44.079 I want 00:34:44.079 --> 00:34:44.579 someone to 00:34:44.579 --> 00:34:45.500 tell me it's 00:34:45.500 --> 00:34:45.940 going to be 00:34:45.940 --> 00:34:47.119 okay because 00:34:47.119 --> 00:34:47.920 they have 00:34:47.920 --> 00:34:48.500 survived. 00:34:50.659 --> 00:34:51.759 And that's 00:34:51.759 --> 00:34:52.699 exactly what 00:34:52.699 --> 00:34:54.000 God does 00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:55.739 in the face 00:34:55.739 --> 00:34:56.119 of our 00:34:56.119 --> 00:34:56.559 suffering. 00:34:57.559 --> 00:34:58.420 He became 00:34:58.420 --> 00:34:59.519 human and 00:34:59.519 --> 00:35:00.099 suffered with 00:35:00.099 --> 00:35:00.380 us. 00:35:00.539 --> 00:35:01.059 He faced 00:35:01.059 --> 00:35:01.480 all the 00:35:01.480 --> 00:35:02.259 trials and 00:35:02.259 --> 00:35:03.400 temptations we 00:35:03.400 --> 00:35:03.719 face. 00:35:03.719 --> 00:35:04.539 He suffered 00:35:04.539 --> 00:35:05.739 everything we 00:35:05.739 --> 00:35:06.419 can suffer. 00:35:06.819 --> 00:35:07.599 Homelessness 00:35:07.599 --> 00:35:08.539 and poverty, 00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:09.739 the death of 00:35:09.739 --> 00:35:10.439 loved ones, 00:35:10.759 --> 00:35:11.980 rejection and 00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:12.959 abandonment, 00:35:13.399 --> 00:35:14.059 abuse. 00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:15.899 Jesus even 00:35:15.899 --> 00:35:16.879 faced His 00:35:16.879 --> 00:35:17.619 own death 00:35:17.619 --> 00:35:18.179 on that 00:35:18.179 --> 00:35:18.699 cross. 00:35:20.299 --> 00:35:21.559 He experienced 00:35:21.559 --> 00:35:23.000 our separation 00:35:23.000 --> 00:35:24.079 from God the 00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:25.059 Father as He 00:35:25.059 --> 00:35:25.739 suffered the 00:35:25.739 --> 00:35:26.759 punishment for 00:35:26.759 --> 00:35:27.199 all of 00:35:27.199 --> 00:35:28.000 humanity's 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:28.259 sin. 00:35:29.299 --> 00:35:30.139 So in all 00:35:30.139 --> 00:35:30.619 of our 00:35:30.619 --> 00:35:31.399 suffering today, 00:35:31.539 --> 00:35:32.639 God says 00:35:32.639 --> 00:35:33.339 this. 00:35:33.719 --> 00:35:35.739 He says, 00:35:35.839 --> 00:35:36.299 my child, 00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:38.259 I'm suffering 00:35:38.259 --> 00:35:39.299 with you. 00:35:40.219 --> 00:35:41.139 I've gone 00:35:41.139 --> 00:35:41.980 through everything 00:35:41.980 --> 00:35:42.639 you're going 00:35:42.639 --> 00:35:43.000 through. 00:35:44.419 --> 00:35:45.639 I can actually 00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:46.679 tell you don't 00:35:46.679 --> 00:35:47.399 cry because 00:35:47.399 --> 00:35:48.279 everything's 00:35:48.279 --> 00:35:49.199 going to be 00:35:49.199 --> 00:35:49.919 okay. 00:35:50.259 --> 00:35:51.019 I know that. 00:35:52.339 --> 00:35:53.419 Jesus saw 00:35:53.419 --> 00:35:53.739 you. 00:35:54.079 --> 00:35:54.399 He had 00:35:54.399 --> 00:35:55.579 compassion for 00:35:55.579 --> 00:35:55.879 you. 00:35:56.179 --> 00:35:57.279 He came to 00:35:57.279 --> 00:35:58.399 you and He 00:35:58.399 --> 00:35:58.939 performed the 00:35:58.939 --> 00:35:59.959 greatest miracle 00:35:59.959 --> 00:36:01.079 for you. 00:36:01.079 --> 00:36:02.719 you see, 00:36:02.799 --> 00:36:03.319 the widow's 00:36:03.319 --> 00:36:04.059 son was 00:36:04.059 --> 00:36:04.599 resurrected, 00:36:04.840 --> 00:36:05.380 but eventually 00:36:05.380 --> 00:36:05.799 He would 00:36:05.799 --> 00:36:06.139 have died 00:36:06.139 --> 00:36:06.519 again, 00:36:06.719 --> 00:36:07.000 right? 00:36:07.799 --> 00:36:08.539 But on the 00:36:08.539 --> 00:36:09.099 third day 00:36:09.099 --> 00:36:09.880 after Jesus 00:36:09.880 --> 00:36:10.559 faced His 00:36:10.559 --> 00:36:11.099 own death, 00:36:11.319 --> 00:36:12.059 He returned 00:36:12.059 --> 00:36:13.000 to life 00:36:13.000 --> 00:36:14.079 to overcome 00:36:14.079 --> 00:36:15.420 all your 00:36:15.420 --> 00:36:15.860 suffering. 00:36:17.299 --> 00:36:18.579 He resurrected 00:36:18.579 --> 00:36:19.519 to this new 00:36:19.519 --> 00:36:20.699 eternal body 00:36:20.699 --> 00:36:21.799 and returned 00:36:21.799 --> 00:36:22.340 to heaven. 00:36:23.380 --> 00:36:24.319 He shows you 00:36:24.319 --> 00:36:25.199 that not only 00:36:25.199 --> 00:36:25.619 does He 00:36:25.619 --> 00:36:26.360 understand 00:36:26.360 --> 00:36:27.639 your suffering, 00:36:27.819 --> 00:36:28.239 but He 00:36:28.239 --> 00:36:29.099 turns your 00:36:29.099 --> 00:36:30.319 mourning into 00:36:30.319 --> 00:36:30.920 laughter. 00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:32.539 Your suffering 00:36:32.539 --> 00:36:33.079 doesn't just 00:36:33.079 --> 00:36:34.139 end in death, 00:36:34.179 --> 00:36:35.000 but it ends 00:36:35.000 --> 00:36:35.880 in eternal 00:36:35.880 --> 00:36:37.000 life, 00:36:37.420 --> 00:36:38.539 in a resurrection 00:36:38.539 --> 00:36:39.400 body, 00:36:39.699 --> 00:36:40.279 in a new 00:36:40.279 --> 00:36:40.719 heaven, 00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:41.579 in a new 00:36:41.579 --> 00:36:42.519 earth that God 00:36:42.519 --> 00:36:43.219 is creating 00:36:43.219 --> 00:36:44.039 for us that 00:36:44.039 --> 00:36:44.799 is perfect. 00:36:46.179 --> 00:36:46.839 And like the 00:36:46.839 --> 00:36:47.539 widow receiving 00:36:47.539 --> 00:36:48.279 her son back, 00:36:48.360 --> 00:36:48.940 you just need 00:36:48.940 --> 00:36:49.699 to receive 00:36:49.699 --> 00:36:50.739 this miracle 00:36:50.739 --> 00:36:51.599 by believing 00:36:51.599 --> 00:36:52.659 and trusting 00:36:52.659 --> 00:36:53.460 in what Jesus 00:36:53.460 --> 00:36:54.940 did through 00:36:54.940 --> 00:36:55.599 His life, 00:36:56.000 --> 00:36:56.559 His death, 00:36:56.900 --> 00:36:57.239 and His 00:36:57.239 --> 00:36:57.839 resurrection. 00:36:59.099 --> 00:37:00.839 Guys, 00:37:00.960 --> 00:37:01.460 suffering is 00:37:01.460 --> 00:37:01.920 something I 00:37:01.920 --> 00:37:02.339 don't take 00:37:02.339 --> 00:37:02.739 lightly, 00:37:03.279 --> 00:37:04.059 but if there 00:37:04.059 --> 00:37:04.579 was someone 00:37:04.579 --> 00:37:05.259 who followed 00:37:05.259 --> 00:37:06.019 Jesus and 00:37:06.019 --> 00:37:06.579 understood 00:37:06.579 --> 00:37:07.239 suffering, 00:37:07.799 --> 00:37:08.659 it was the 00:37:08.659 --> 00:37:09.539 Apostle Paul. 00:37:10.219 --> 00:37:10.940 Just read about 00:37:10.940 --> 00:37:11.679 his life in the 00:37:11.679 --> 00:37:12.199 New Testament. 00:37:12.519 --> 00:37:13.259 It was crazy. 00:37:14.819 --> 00:37:15.759 It was horrendous. 00:37:16.019 --> 00:37:16.719 But writing to 00:37:16.719 --> 00:37:17.639 the church in 00:37:17.639 --> 00:37:18.299 Rome, he said, 00:37:18.440 --> 00:37:19.900 I consider that 00:37:19.900 --> 00:37:20.799 our present 00:37:20.799 --> 00:37:21.639 sufferings are 00:37:21.639 --> 00:37:22.219 not worth 00:37:22.219 --> 00:37:22.819 comparing, 00:37:23.759 --> 00:37:24.460 not worth 00:37:24.460 --> 00:37:25.199 comparing with 00:37:25.199 --> 00:37:25.940 the glory that 00:37:25.940 --> 00:37:26.699 will be revealed 00:37:26.699 --> 00:37:27.219 in us. 00:37:27.219 --> 00:37:29.679 The Widow of 00:37:29.679 --> 00:37:30.379 Nain is a 00:37:30.379 --> 00:37:31.159 story of a 00:37:31.159 --> 00:37:32.539 widow in a 00:37:32.539 --> 00:37:33.339 state of living 00:37:33.339 --> 00:37:34.980 death, walking 00:37:34.980 --> 00:37:37.319 on a journey to 00:37:37.319 --> 00:37:38.359 the burial site 00:37:38.359 --> 00:37:39.459 of her own 00:37:39.459 --> 00:37:39.859 son. 00:37:41.459 --> 00:37:42.539 When Jesus, 00:37:43.459 --> 00:37:44.019 coming the 00:37:44.019 --> 00:37:44.759 other way, 00:37:46.039 --> 00:37:46.799 stops the 00:37:46.799 --> 00:37:49.159 procession and 00:37:49.159 --> 00:37:51.599 intervenes, and 00:37:51.599 --> 00:37:52.359 He brings her 00:37:52.359 --> 00:37:54.599 entire world to 00:37:54.599 --> 00:37:55.239 life again. 00:37:55.239 --> 00:37:57.879 that's the 00:37:57.879 --> 00:37:58.479 image of 00:37:58.479 --> 00:37:58.859 Nain. 00:37:59.939 --> 00:38:00.599 That's the 00:38:00.599 --> 00:38:01.500 image for us 00:38:01.500 --> 00:38:01.899 today. 00:38:03.079 --> 00:38:03.500 And the 00:38:03.500 --> 00:38:04.739 profound image 00:38:04.739 --> 00:38:05.619 is that Jesus 00:38:05.619 --> 00:38:06.500 offers that 00:38:06.500 --> 00:38:07.119 resurrection, 00:38:07.919 --> 00:38:09.219 that life, in 00:38:09.219 --> 00:38:09.979 the midst of our 00:38:09.979 --> 00:38:10.859 suffering today. 00:38:11.399 --> 00:38:13.359 So how will you 00:38:13.359 --> 00:38:14.339 respond to that? 00:38:16.839 --> 00:38:17.679 How will you 00:38:17.679 --> 00:38:18.479 respond to that? 00:38:18.480 --> 00:38:21.380 I want to 00:38:21.380 --> 00:38:22.460 invite the band 00:38:22.460 --> 00:38:23.079 to come back 00:38:23.079 --> 00:38:23.719 up right now, 00:38:23.820 --> 00:38:24.679 but just take a 00:38:24.679 --> 00:38:25.280 minute now, 00:38:25.500 --> 00:38:25.980 personally. 00:38:26.219 --> 00:38:27.000 I invite you, 00:38:27.039 --> 00:38:27.719 just close your 00:38:27.719 --> 00:38:28.440 eyes and maybe 00:38:28.440 --> 00:38:29.119 even bow your 00:38:29.119 --> 00:38:30.559 heads, and 00:38:30.559 --> 00:38:31.119 just think. 00:38:31.260 --> 00:38:31.820 I'm not going to 00:38:31.820 --> 00:38:32.420 pray out loud, 00:38:32.519 --> 00:38:33.179 just think in 00:38:33.179 --> 00:38:33.559 your own 00:38:33.559 --> 00:38:34.000 hearts. 00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:35.820 What is the 00:38:35.820 --> 00:38:36.500 suffering that 00:38:36.500 --> 00:38:37.139 you see in 00:38:37.139 --> 00:38:37.500 your own 00:38:37.500 --> 00:38:37.880 life? 00:38:39.019 --> 00:38:39.860 And how does 00:38:39.860 --> 00:38:40.679 Jesus Christ 00:38:40.679 --> 00:38:41.320 meet you, 00:38:42.380 --> 00:38:43.019 just like He 00:38:43.019 --> 00:38:43.500 did for the 00:38:43.500 --> 00:38:43.880 widow of 00:38:43.880 --> 00:38:44.099 Nain? 00:38:44.099 --> 00:38:44.159 Amen. 00:38:44.159 --> 00:38:44.199 Amen. 00:38:44.199 --> 00:38:44.240 Amen. 00:38:44.240 --> 00:38:44.280 Amen. 00:38:44.280 --> 00:38:44.320 Amen. 00:38:44.320 --> 00:38:44.340 Amen. 00:38:48.480 --> 00:38:49.480 Amen.