WEBVTT

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 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

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 Our passion is to experience and express grace.

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 Join us.

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 We talk a lot about life on Easter, don't we?

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 New life, eternal life, abundant life.

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 But what is the good life after all?

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 It's a really important question, isn't it?

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 What's the good life?

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 Maybe you come to a church like this on Easter and you conclude that the good life that Christians have to offer involves wearing pastels even when they're uncomfortable,

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 gathering plastic eggs, and listening to a long monologue from one of many people pretending to be holier than he is.

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 And you would understandably want out of that.

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 Just as much as you don't want the good life to be endlessly floating on a cloud with a harp.

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 What comes to mind for you when I say the good life?

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 Is it security?

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 Community?

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 Health?

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 Purpose?

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 Comfort?

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 Peace?

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 A lot of things probably.

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 Maybe jot a couple things down if you want to this morning.

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 For me as a kid, the good life was being a professional baseball player.

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 That was it.

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 And all the success and the fame and the fun that would come with that.

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 And it was all about being a professional baseball player.

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 And then I got injured.

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 And then I got older.

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 And now I just hope that I can make it through one game of pickleball without pulling a hamstring or tearing a rotator cuff.

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 The good life for me has always included everyone getting along.

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 Peaceful relationships all around me.

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 Oh, it makes me feel so good.

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 But man, y'all relationships are hard.

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 Life is messy.

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 Maybe, I've thought more often than I'd like to admit, maybe I can just, I can't give all the relationships, but I can just make everyone love me.

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 And think I'm wonderful.

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 And I've performed for that.

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 I've exhausted myself trying to please everyone.

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 And then I became the father of teenagers and I just gave up on that dream altogether.

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 Love you.

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 Love you.

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 Even wildly successful quarterback Tom Brady, after reaching the pinnacle of sport and for many life, said it's not all it's cracked up to be.

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 It was longing for something more.

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 Maybe you've known that same struggle with the things that are on your list, even if they're different.

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 You long to have the good life.

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 But you're going to need something that fixes the brokenness you see around you.

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 That fills the emptiness that you feel inside you.

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 No matter how hard we try or how much success we have achieving the good life, it seems to elude our grasp.

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 See if you can write down a few words that describe the good life in your mind.

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 And then let's see what kind of life Jesus offers.

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 In John chapter 10, Jesus is telling us that he comes to give abundant life.

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 The good life.

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 But his may be different from our idea of it.

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 It may also answer some of the same longings that you and I have in an even better way.

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 Let's read beginning at verse 10.

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 What Jesus has to say about who he is and what he offers.

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 Hear now the most important part of the sermon.

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 The very word of God.

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 I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

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 I am the good shepherd.

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 The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

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 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd who does not own the sheep sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.

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 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

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 I am the good shepherd.

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 I know my own and my own know me.

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 Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.

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 And I lay down my life for the sheep.

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 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold.

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 I must bring them also and they will listen to my voice.

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 So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

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 For this reason the Father loves me because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.

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 No one takes it from me but I lay it down of my own accord.

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 I have authority to lay it down and I have authority to take it up again.

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 This charge I have received from my Father.

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 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words.

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 Many of them said, he has a demon and is insane.

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 Why listen to him?

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 Others said, these are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon.

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 And can a demon open the eyes of the blind?

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 Jesus, we ask for your help this morning.

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 Would you help us to see you clearly for who you say you are?

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 Would you by your spirit open eyes?

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 Give hope to hurting hearts?

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 Enflame hearts that have grown cold?

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 Show us, Jesus, who you are in the life that you give.

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 We ask in your name.

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 Amen.

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 Jesus uses here in this chapter the imagery of the sheepfold and the sheep and the shepherd

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 to talk about our relationship with God.

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 And that should be striking right off the bat because of the close relationship that sheep

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 and shepherds have.

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 More involved with one another than any other animal and caregiver at that time.

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 It was a unique, striking relationship.

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 The coming and the going.

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 The morning and the evening.

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 The sleeping and the eating.

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 Together.

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 All the time.

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 And this is part of the abundant life.

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 The good life that Jesus is describing is that he, as the good shepherd, knows his sheep

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 and they know him.

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 In fact, they know each other, he says, as intimately as the Father and the Son from all eternity.

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 That kind of close relationship is what Jesus has in mind.

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 One key aspect of the good life, Jesus says, is being fully known.

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 Earlier in the chapter, Jesus says the shepherd of the sheep enters the sheepfold and he calls

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 his own sheep by name and leads them out.

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 Personally.

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 Individually called and led.

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 What would happen in Jesus' day is that several flocks of sheep would be kept overnight in the same

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 sheepfold.

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 And that way, one shepherd could keep them and sleep there with them.

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 But then in the morning, out would come the separate shepherds and the first one who would

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 show up would come and call in his own unique voice.

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 And out of that entire group of sheep, his sheep would come out and follow him.

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 Only his sheep would come.

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 See, he knows them and they know him.

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 That's actually what makes them a flock is that they have the same shepherd.

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 That's what Jesus means in verse 16 when he talks about calling other sheep that are not of this

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 fold.

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 They will listen to his voice.

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 And as they do, otherwise, unconnected sheep will become one flock.

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 Why?

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 Because they all follow the voice of one shepherd.

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 Jesus is speaking particularly of Jews and Gentiles.

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 But think in that context of the most extreme enemies, people of diverse backgrounds brought

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 into relationship because they all know and are personally known by Jesus.

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 What great community, right?

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 In the flock of the good shepherd with young and old, rich and poor, black and white, sharing

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 in common the most important relationship in all of life.

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 It can be a wonderful thing to be known truly, fully.

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 To have someone who knows the blemishes outside and inside.

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 The struggles you face each day.

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 The place you really belong.

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 It can free you up, can't it?

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 Not only from having to be left out, but it can free you up from having to pretend.

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 From having to hide.

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 The shepherd knows you too well to think that you can blend in with another flock and not

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 be noticed.

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 The piano tuner was here this week helping us get ready for today.

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 And as I was talking to him about the piano, whenever he talked about it, he talked about

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 it like a close friend.

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 He talked about her, in fact.

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 He had been part of the rebuilding of this piano years ago when that was needed.

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 He knows it inside and out.

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 What it should sound like.

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 How it needs to be tuned up when something's off, right?

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 Friends, God was part of your building.

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 He knows you by name.

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 Even more thoroughly than the piano tuner, which can be a wonderful thing, right?

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 God knows you.

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 Unless you're afraid of being fully known.

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 Unless you know your blemishes enough to feel shame.

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 Unless you've experienced what usually happens when someone sees all your flaws and all your

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 failures.

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 One of the remarkably hopeful realities that Jesus offers here is abundant life where you

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 are both fully known and fully loved.

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 What happens when Jesus gets the full view of us?

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 When he's aware of all our failures?

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 When he knows us completely?

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 He says it twice.

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 The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

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 Isn't that amazing?

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 Just ponder that for a minute.

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 Isn't it amazing that knowing us and everything about us, he decides to die for us?

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 What incredible love.

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 Jesus will later say greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for

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 his friends.

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 Paul marvels in Romans that it's hard to imagine dying even for a really good person, right?

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 And that wasn't us.

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 We weren't really good people.

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 We're weak.

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 We're ungodly.

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 While we were yet sinners, what?

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 Christ died for us.

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 God, knowing our worst, gave us his best, fully known and fully loved, exposed and embraced.

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 How?

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 How does that happen?

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 How does God protect us from the consequences of our weaknesses and failures?

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 Jesus says, I lay down my life for the sheep.

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 I step into harm's way, as we talked about with the kids, to defend you from the dangerous

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 attack, right?

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 Sheep have many predators.

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 We've only talked about wolves.

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 There's bears and lions.

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 Shepherds would have to fight them off.

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 In the case of sinful people, we are facing sin and Satan and death.

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 Those are the enemies we need protection from.

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 So our good shepherd will have to lay down his life to protect us from those enemies.

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 The preposition for there is one of substitution.

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 Yes, for our good, but particularly I lay down my life in the place of the sheep.

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 In other words, the sheep who are rightfully afraid, right?

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 They're afraid that they're going to get the rejection that they deserve from God, are protected

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 only by someone else who deserves something different, who deserves acceptance, being willing to trade

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 places with them.

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 Isaiah 53 says it this way,

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 But he was pierced for our transgressions.

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 He was crushed for our iniquities.

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 Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

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 All we like sheep, interesting, have gone astray.

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 We have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

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 The good shepherd, in this case, in this image, becomes a lamb, right?

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 Sacrificing his life in our place so that we are welcomed into his place in God's family.

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 Some of you have heard me recount the documentary on sheep that has a little orphan lamb.

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 A ewe lamb has died giving birth.

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 And her little orphan keeps being kicked away by all the other ewe lambs because they know and will only feed and care for their own lambs.

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 The narrator tells us that certainly this little orphan lamb is facing death soon.

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 The vision comes, the picture rolls to the lamb being kicked away, and he's rolling away from the flock in the dirt.

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 And then the narrator says,

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 Ah, but the shepherd knows best.

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 What does the shepherd do?

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 He pulls aside one of the little lambs that's feeding from his mother,

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 and he shears his coat.

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 And he takes that coat, and one leg at a time,

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 he puts it over the little orphan lamb that he's holding in his arms,

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 and then he bends down and he sends it running right back to that ewe lamb

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 who bends over and sniffs it

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 and eagerly welcomes it in and cares for it and nourishes it as her own.

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 That's what our good shepherd has done for us as the lamb of God

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 who takes away the sin of the world,

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 covering us instead of our sin with his perfection

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 so that we can be welcomed in and cared for in the family of God.

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 Isn't that wonderful?

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 Can you imagine living at work in a context

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 where you don't have the pressure of making budget?

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 In fact, if you made a mistake that cost the company a billion dollars,

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 you wouldn't be run off for that.

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 In fact, you worked at a place where if that happened,

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 the boss would say, I'm going to take care of it.

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 Let me cover the cost.

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 In fact, let's throw a party.

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 Employee of the year.

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 Wouldn't it be great if that was the real world?

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 Listen, it is the realest world that you'll ever know.

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 If Jesus is your good shepherd,

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 the fear of failure,

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 the shame of disappointment can be gone in his embrace.

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 He cares for you.

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 He protects you.

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 He pays your debt and lays down his life for you.

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 Contrast that with anything else,

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 with the hired hand.

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 What happens when there's danger coming towards the sheep?

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 What does the hired hand do?

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 He runs away from danger and from the sheep.

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 So they're left exposed

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 and facing harm on their own.

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 Listen, friends,

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 your money will not lay down its life for you.

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 It won't.

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 Your success,

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 your comfort

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 won't lay down its life for you.

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 But Jesus,

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 your good shepherd,

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 will and has.

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 He will keep loving you.

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 You are fully loved.

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 You can live adventurously

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 and never lose.

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 You can live confidently

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 and never fear.

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 Hey, with a life like that,

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 you may actually

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 not want it to end.

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 Ever.

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 That's a life worth living, isn't it?

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 Wouldn't you love to be freed up

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 to live like that every day?

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 To know that kind of joy

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 and confidence

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 and purpose

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 and freedom?

00:19:56.139 --> 00:19:57.740
 We long to live

00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:59.139
 fully known

00:19:59.140 --> 00:20:01.120
 and fully loved

00:20:01.120 --> 00:20:02.780
 forever.

00:20:06.360 --> 00:20:07.440
 Just think about it.

00:20:07.540 --> 00:20:08.360
 If you're wondering,

00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:09.500
 is that really what I long for?

00:20:11.300 --> 00:20:12.440
 Think about it this way.

00:20:12.440 --> 00:20:13.540
 Most of us

00:20:13.540 --> 00:20:14.400
 in here

00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:16.600
 have lost someone

00:20:16.600 --> 00:20:18.780
 who for us

00:20:18.780 --> 00:20:21.259
 was an absolutely fundamental part

00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:22.500
 of the good life.

00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:23.560
 Right?

00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:26.079
 For us,

00:20:26.940 --> 00:20:28.339
 a longed-for child

00:20:28.339 --> 00:20:29.839
 many years ago.

00:20:31.159 --> 00:20:32.700
 More recently,

00:20:33.419 --> 00:20:35.200
 beloved family members

00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:36.899
 and friends.

00:20:38.859 --> 00:20:40.220
 And now you live

00:20:40.220 --> 00:20:42.379
 and even the best moments,

00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:45.119
 the best experiences

00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:45.779
 that we have,

00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:46.899
 the good things

00:20:46.899 --> 00:20:47.899
 in this life

00:20:47.899 --> 00:20:50.679
 are not quite complete

00:20:50.679 --> 00:20:52.000
 without them,

00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:52.359
 are they?

00:20:52.359 --> 00:20:55.459
 without being able

00:20:55.459 --> 00:20:56.359
 to share it with them,

00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:58.299
 it just is not

00:20:58.299 --> 00:21:00.119
 completely good.

00:21:02.459 --> 00:21:02.879
 See,

00:21:02.959 --> 00:21:03.959
 we long not merely

00:21:03.959 --> 00:21:05.079
 for existence

00:21:05.079 --> 00:21:06.579
 after death,

00:21:07.339 --> 00:21:10.119
 but personal life

00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:11.959
 and relationships

00:21:11.959 --> 00:21:13.699
 and love

00:21:13.699 --> 00:21:15.139
 that continues.

00:21:15.639 --> 00:21:16.399
 That's what we want

00:21:16.399 --> 00:21:17.679
 and only Jesus

00:21:17.679 --> 00:21:19.599
 offers that.

00:21:19.819 --> 00:21:20.419
 No money,

00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:21.759
 no success,

00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:23.759
 nothing that I often

00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:24.859
 live for

00:21:24.859 --> 00:21:26.740
 brings my loved ones

00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:27.299
 back,

00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:28.019
 does it?

00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:30.359
 Look at what's so unique

00:21:30.359 --> 00:21:31.019
 about Jesus.

00:21:32.259 --> 00:21:33.180
 We get distracted,

00:21:33.379 --> 00:21:34.000
 understandably,

00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:35.759
 by the glorious reality

00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:36.859
 that our good shepherd

00:21:36.859 --> 00:21:38.039
 lays down his life

00:21:38.039 --> 00:21:38.980
 for the sheep.

00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:40.660
 But you know,

00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:41.259
 that's not really

00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:42.539
 the most surprising part

00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:43.779
 of what Jesus says here.

00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:47.579
 I can lay down my life,

00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:47.839
 right?

00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:49.299
 You can lay down

00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:50.099
 your life.

00:21:51.859 --> 00:21:53.599
 Only Jesus can say,

00:21:54.599 --> 00:21:56.220
 I lay down my life

00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:57.920
 that I may

00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:59.220
 take it up

00:21:59.220 --> 00:21:59.940
 again.

00:22:00.660 --> 00:22:02.519
 I have authority

00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:03.799
 to lay it down

00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:05.200
 and authority

00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:07.220
 to take it up again.

00:22:07.619 --> 00:22:08.000
 Aha!

00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:09.899
 We finally made it to Easter.

00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:11.119
 Some of you were wondering.

00:22:11.639 --> 00:22:12.699
 Some of you weren't sure

00:22:12.699 --> 00:22:13.779
 I was going to get there.

00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:16.579
 It's the good shepherd

00:22:16.579 --> 00:22:19.959
 who doesn't just die

00:22:19.959 --> 00:22:21.259
 and that's the end.

00:22:21.379 --> 00:22:23.059
 What happens to the sheep

00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:23.319
 then?

00:22:23.439 --> 00:22:23.679
 No.

00:22:24.239 --> 00:22:24.979
 The sheep would be

00:22:24.979 --> 00:22:25.839
 left unattended.

00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:27.079
 If he's not alive,

00:22:27.379 --> 00:22:29.399
 some of the broken parts

00:22:29.399 --> 00:22:30.459
 of the good life

00:22:30.459 --> 00:22:31.519
 can never be fixed.

00:22:31.719 --> 00:22:32.659
 If he's not alive,

00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:34.500
 the pain that Holly shared

00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:35.099
 and the struggles

00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:36.339
 that she's having

00:22:36.339 --> 00:22:37.119
 are real

00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:39.359
 and there's no real hope

00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:40.619
 for change.

00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:45.819
 If only for this life

00:22:45.819 --> 00:22:47.679
 we have hope in Christ,

00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:48.859
 we are of all people

00:22:48.859 --> 00:22:51.239
 most to be pitied.

00:22:53.379 --> 00:22:53.859
 But,

00:22:54.379 --> 00:22:56.859
 Jesus has more to say.

00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:58.979
 Jesus is the author

00:22:58.979 --> 00:23:00.619
 of life.

00:23:01.579 --> 00:23:03.279
 Jesus is the Lord

00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:04.159
 of life.

00:23:04.479 --> 00:23:06.059
 Jesus is the giver

00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:06.940
 of life.

00:23:06.940 --> 00:23:07.379
 So,

00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:09.460
 when life is painful here,

00:23:09.659 --> 00:23:10.759
 he lives

00:23:10.759 --> 00:23:12.379
 to weep

00:23:12.379 --> 00:23:13.779
 with us.

00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:15.279
 When life is

00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:16.579
 disappointing here,

00:23:16.659 --> 00:23:17.460
 he lives

00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:18.440
 to offer us

00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:19.359
 a new life

00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:20.019
 to come.

00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:22.119
 When life is confusing

00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:23.639
 or scary here,

00:23:23.879 --> 00:23:24.960
 he lives

00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:26.240
 to hold us

00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:27.079
 and to say,

00:23:27.500 --> 00:23:28.119
 no one

00:23:28.119 --> 00:23:29.480
 can snatch you

00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:31.019
 out of my hand.

00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:32.099
 My Father

00:23:32.099 --> 00:23:33.440
 is greater than all.

00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:34.420
 no one

00:23:34.420 --> 00:23:34.779
 is able

00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:35.460
 to snatch you

00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:36.720
 out of my Father's hand.

00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:38.019
 That's security,

00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:38.559
 friends.

00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:40.640
 That's the safety

00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:41.519
 and the life

00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:43.220
 that we long for.

00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:44.120
 Fully known,

00:23:44.460 --> 00:23:45.140
 fully loved,

00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:46.519
 fully protected

00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:47.820
 in his hand

00:23:47.820 --> 00:23:48.840
 no matter what

00:23:48.840 --> 00:23:49.700
 comes

00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:51.120
 because he lives.

00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:55.559
 Jesus' resurrection

00:23:55.559 --> 00:23:57.380
 also frees us up

00:23:57.380 --> 00:23:58.660
 from one of the most

00:23:58.660 --> 00:23:59.740
 difficult parts

00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:00.519
 of this life.

00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:03.119
 the uncertainty

00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:04.019
 and pressure

00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:05.420
 of running

00:24:05.420 --> 00:24:06.279
 out of time.

00:24:07.579 --> 00:24:08.019
 Boy,

00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:08.500
 we fight

00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:09.220
 Father time

00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:09.879
 every way

00:24:09.879 --> 00:24:10.539
 we know how,

00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:10.980
 don't we?

00:24:12.139 --> 00:24:13.059
 We want to get

00:24:13.059 --> 00:24:14.400
 everything we can

00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:15.039
 out of life

00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:15.839
 while we have

00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:16.339
 the chance.

00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:17.460
 It feels to me

00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:18.039
 like we've got

00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:19.000
 a one day pass

00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:19.740
 to Disney World

00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:20.400
 and we've got

00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:21.240
 to wake up early

00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:22.299
 and stay late

00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:23.500
 and run full speed

00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:24.299
 wire to wire

00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:25.420
 to get to everything

00:24:25.420 --> 00:24:26.220
 we can.

00:24:26.639 --> 00:24:27.259
 Our version

00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:27.920
 of the good life

00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:29.200
 has us finding purpose

00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:30.500
 by rushing around

00:24:30.500 --> 00:24:31.420
 to see how many

00:24:31.420 --> 00:24:32.700
 states or countries

00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:33.840
 we can check off

00:24:33.840 --> 00:24:34.480
 our list

00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:35.600
 to skydive

00:24:35.600 --> 00:24:36.180
 to drive

00:24:36.180 --> 00:24:37.620
 the coolest cars

00:24:37.620 --> 00:24:39.220
 to experience it all

00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:40.039
 before we run

00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:40.759
 out of time.

00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:44.819
 When Jesus offers us

00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:47.360
 an eternal extension

00:24:47.360 --> 00:24:49.340
 of all of our bucket lists,

00:24:50.299 --> 00:24:51.259
 I love this.

00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:52.759
 Kelly was sharing

00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:54.160
 about this insight

00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:54.880
 earlier this week.

00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:55.660
 It's so helpful.

00:24:56.100 --> 00:24:57.140
 Abundant life

00:24:57.140 --> 00:24:58.300
 means I'll keep

00:24:58.300 --> 00:25:00.080
 enjoying these things

00:25:00.080 --> 00:25:00.980
 forever

00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:03.300
 so I can slow down

00:25:03.300 --> 00:25:04.640
 now and actually

00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:05.960
 enjoy them

00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:08.960
 and savor moments

00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:10.040
 with the grandkids

00:25:10.040 --> 00:25:13.020
 and linger over

00:25:13.020 --> 00:25:14.340
 conversations with

00:25:14.340 --> 00:25:14.860
 friends

00:25:14.860 --> 00:25:16.580
 and neighbors

00:25:16.580 --> 00:25:19.300
 and rest

00:25:19.300 --> 00:25:21.020
 in prayer

00:25:21.020 --> 00:25:22.840
 with God

00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:25.839
 because I'm not

00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:26.299
 running out

00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:27.139
 of time.

00:25:30.419 --> 00:25:31.199
 Think with me,

00:25:31.259 --> 00:25:31.859
 how much more

00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:32.539
 enjoyable

00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:35.159
 will that trip

00:25:35.159 --> 00:25:35.879
 be if you don't

00:25:35.879 --> 00:25:36.699
 have to rush

00:25:36.699 --> 00:25:37.519
 back home

00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:39.179
 before you're ready?

00:25:40.359 --> 00:25:41.319
 Wouldn't that be nice?

00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:42.019
 Wouldn't that trip

00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:42.439
 have been better?

00:25:45.399 --> 00:25:45.839
 Listen,

00:25:45.919 --> 00:25:46.720
 I want you to imagine

00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:48.139
 how much more

00:25:48.139 --> 00:25:48.879
 memorable

00:25:48.879 --> 00:25:51.339
 will those moments

00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:52.339
 that you look forward

00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:52.799
 to be

00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:53.939
 when you share

00:25:53.939 --> 00:25:55.059
 moments like that

00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:56.659
 with those you love

00:25:56.659 --> 00:25:57.339
 that you miss

00:25:57.339 --> 00:25:57.959
 in your life

00:25:57.959 --> 00:25:58.500
 right now?

00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:01.519
 How much more

00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:02.819
 sweet will they be

00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:03.779
 when you share

00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:04.220
 them together?

00:26:04.679 --> 00:26:04.980
 Now,

00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:06.359
 I want you to stretch

00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:06.819
 a little bit

00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:07.259
 on this one.

00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:08.980
 I want you to dream

00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:10.500
 if you possibly can

00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:11.879
 how much more

00:26:11.879 --> 00:26:12.699
 glorious

00:26:12.699 --> 00:26:14.500
 will your tour

00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.819
 of the universe

00:26:15.819 --> 00:26:16.480
 be

00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:17.500
 when you're

00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:18.159
 given it

00:26:18.159 --> 00:26:18.899
 by the one

00:26:18.900 --> 00:26:19.960
 who flung out

00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:20.800
 the planets

00:26:20.800 --> 00:26:22.100
 and then threw

00:26:22.100 --> 00:26:22.840
 the stars

00:26:22.840 --> 00:26:23.460
 over there

00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:24.720
 beyond what

00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:25.400
 we've been able

00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:26.400
 to find yet

00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:27.519
 who crafted

00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:28.580
 the mountains

00:26:28.580 --> 00:26:30.380
 and the beaches

00:26:30.380 --> 00:26:31.840
 who painted

00:26:31.840 --> 00:26:33.019
 the flowers

00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:34.660
 and the rainbows

00:26:34.660 --> 00:26:35.860
 and he's going

00:26:35.860 --> 00:26:37.060
 to walk with you

00:26:37.060 --> 00:26:37.880
 and give you

00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:38.500
 that tour

00:26:38.500 --> 00:26:39.600
 and enjoy it

00:26:39.600 --> 00:26:40.100
 with you?

00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:41.160
 Isn't Jesus

00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:42.240
 amazing?

00:26:43.240 --> 00:26:44.240
 Isn't he awesome?

00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:45.019
 Won't that be

00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:46.040
 glorious?

00:26:46.039 --> 00:26:51.159
 Jesus offers

00:26:51.159 --> 00:26:52.200
 the good life

00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:53.279
 without the

00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:54.319
 uncertainties

00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:55.099
 of the future

00:26:55.099 --> 00:26:57.399
 fully secure

00:26:57.399 --> 00:26:58.859
 eternally free

00:26:58.859 --> 00:26:59.899
 because he

00:26:59.899 --> 00:27:00.960
 always lives

00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:01.279
 and listen

00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:03.000
 because he lives

00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:04.039
 he brings his

00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:04.519
 sheep

00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:05.399
 who hear his

00:27:05.399 --> 00:27:05.759
 voice

00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:07.059
 and follow him

00:27:07.059 --> 00:27:08.420
 to live with him

00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:09.200
 forever

00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:10.740
 if the shepherd

00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:12.420
 after the worst

00:27:12.420 --> 00:27:13.000
 attack

00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:14.319
 from the most

00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:15.440
 dangerous enemies

00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:16.840
 if he lives

00:27:16.840 --> 00:27:18.759
 so

00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.940
 do

00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:21.519
 the sheep

00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:23.080
 if the good

00:27:23.080 --> 00:27:23.799
 shepherd

00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:25.080
 is alive

00:27:25.080 --> 00:27:26.140
 you

00:27:26.140 --> 00:27:27.180
 will live

00:27:27.180 --> 00:27:28.660
 with him

00:27:28.660 --> 00:27:29.640
 forever

00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:31.900
 that's good news

00:27:31.900 --> 00:27:34.920
 if you hear that

00:27:34.920 --> 00:27:36.880
 and it sounds

00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:37.500
 crazy

00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:39.180
 it sounds

00:27:39.180 --> 00:27:39.620
 too good

00:27:39.620 --> 00:27:40.299
 to be true

00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:42.720
 you're not alone

00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:44.539
 in fact

00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:44.960
 the crowds

00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:45.740
 listening to Jesus

00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:46.200
 say it

00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:47.039
 were starkly

00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:47.440
 divided

00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:47.819
 listen

00:27:47.819 --> 00:27:49.279
 verse 19

00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:50.579
 there was again

00:27:50.579 --> 00:27:51.039
 a division

00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:51.759
 among the Jews

00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:52.960
 because of these

00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:53.539
 words

00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:54.799
 many of them

00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.299
 said

00:27:55.299 --> 00:27:56.299
 he has a

00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:56.660
 demon

00:27:56.660 --> 00:27:57.740
 and is insane

00:27:57.740 --> 00:27:58.680
 why listen

00:27:58.680 --> 00:27:59.420
 to him

00:27:59.420 --> 00:28:02.279
 others said

00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:03.380
 I don't know

00:28:03.380 --> 00:28:04.319
 these are not

00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:04.819
 the words

00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:05.360
 of one who's

00:28:05.360 --> 00:28:05.680
 oppressed

00:28:05.680 --> 00:28:06.339
 by a demon

00:28:06.339 --> 00:28:07.779
 can a demon

00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.480
 open the eyes

00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:09.100
 of the blind

00:28:09.099 --> 00:28:11.939
 two options

00:28:11.939 --> 00:28:12.219
 right

00:28:12.219 --> 00:28:13.199
 either he's

00:28:13.199 --> 00:28:13.859
 crazy

00:28:13.859 --> 00:28:15.240
 possessed

00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:16.339
 not worth

00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:17.000
 listening to

00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:17.480
 at all

00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:18.480
 go on with

00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:18.959
 your life

00:28:18.959 --> 00:28:20.559
 or

00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:22.199
 he's really

00:28:22.199 --> 00:28:22.980
 the Christ

00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:24.279
 the

00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:25.519
 divine

00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:26.699
 Messiah

00:28:26.699 --> 00:28:27.740
 it's his

00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:28.379
 comment about

00:28:28.379 --> 00:28:29.259
 authority to take

00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:29.699
 up his own

00:28:29.699 --> 00:28:30.359
 life that pushes

00:28:30.359 --> 00:28:30.819
 them there

00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:31.199
 isn't it

00:28:31.199 --> 00:28:32.419
 you can talk

00:28:32.419 --> 00:28:32.939
 about laying

00:28:32.939 --> 00:28:33.359
 your own

00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:34.000
 life down

00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:34.500
 fine

00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:35.279
 anybody can

00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:35.679
 say that

00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:36.660
 but don't

00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:37.140
 tell us

00:28:37.140 --> 00:28:37.600
 that you're

00:28:37.600 --> 00:28:38.019
 in charge

00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:38.440
 of taking

00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:38.900
 it back

00:28:38.900 --> 00:28:39.240
 up

00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:40.340
 only God

00:28:40.340 --> 00:28:40.700
 can

00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:43.060
 yep

00:28:43.060 --> 00:28:46.440
 Jesus

00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:46.920
 leaves the

00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:47.340
 crowd with

00:28:47.340 --> 00:28:48.220
 limited options

00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:48.880
 doesn't he

00:28:48.880 --> 00:28:50.460
 demonic

00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:53.200
 or divine

00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:54.060
 we're

00:28:54.060 --> 00:28:55.259
 still left

00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:55.600
 there

00:28:55.600 --> 00:28:58.740
 and notice

00:28:58.740 --> 00:28:59.080
 what many

00:28:59.080 --> 00:28:59.799
 begin to say

00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:00.779
 as they

00:29:00.779 --> 00:29:01.380
 wrestle in

00:29:01.380 --> 00:29:02.279
 that tension

00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:03.640
 they begin

00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:04.200
 to realize

00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:04.860
 both his

00:29:04.859 --> 00:29:05.819
 words and

00:29:05.819 --> 00:29:06.500
 his works

00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:07.079
 argue

00:29:07.079 --> 00:29:08.219
 for the

00:29:08.219 --> 00:29:08.539
 latter

00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:09.759
 this guy

00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:10.699
 doesn't talk

00:29:10.699 --> 00:29:11.159
 like the

00:29:11.159 --> 00:29:11.539
 demonic

00:29:11.539 --> 00:29:12.539
 people we've

00:29:12.539 --> 00:29:12.859
 known

00:29:12.859 --> 00:29:14.500
 his words

00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:15.579
 make sense

00:29:15.579 --> 00:29:16.819
 he speaks

00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:17.619
 with authority

00:29:17.619 --> 00:29:18.479
 his imagery

00:29:18.479 --> 00:29:19.240
 is understandable

00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:19.719
 it's right

00:29:19.719 --> 00:29:20.119
 from our

00:29:20.119 --> 00:29:20.479
 world

00:29:20.479 --> 00:29:21.059
 he seems

00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:21.319
 to be

00:29:21.319 --> 00:29:21.699
 speaking

00:29:21.699 --> 00:29:22.099
 for the

00:29:22.099 --> 00:29:22.399
 good of

00:29:22.399 --> 00:29:23.000
 others

00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:25.399
 and on top

00:29:25.399 --> 00:29:25.599
 of that

00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:26.459
 his works

00:29:26.459 --> 00:29:26.779
 the way

00:29:26.779 --> 00:29:27.479
 he lives

00:29:27.479 --> 00:29:27.759
 I mean

00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:28.859
 he's not

00:29:28.859 --> 00:29:29.419
 getting rich

00:29:29.419 --> 00:29:29.819
 off these

00:29:29.819 --> 00:29:30.919
 wild claims

00:29:30.919 --> 00:29:31.899
 he's humble

00:29:31.899 --> 00:29:32.879
 poor

00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:34.100
 he's not

00:29:34.100 --> 00:29:34.620
 living for

00:29:34.620 --> 00:29:35.000
 himself

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:35.680
 or even

00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:36.380
 using these

00:29:36.380 --> 00:29:37.440
 powerful miracles

00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:37.940
 for his

00:29:37.940 --> 00:29:38.860
 own ends

00:29:38.860 --> 00:29:39.960
 he's feeding

00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:41.020
 other people

00:29:41.020 --> 00:29:42.380
 he's healing

00:29:42.380 --> 00:29:43.780
 other people

00:29:43.780 --> 00:29:44.840
 like this

00:29:44.840 --> 00:29:45.800
 blind man

00:29:45.800 --> 00:29:47.380
 that's not

00:29:47.380 --> 00:29:47.900
 demonic

00:29:47.900 --> 00:29:50.700
 perhaps

00:29:50.700 --> 00:29:52.480
 divine

00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:54.780
 maybe there's

00:29:54.780 --> 00:29:55.340
 something to

00:29:55.340 --> 00:29:56.240
 this Jesus

00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:58.720
 wouldn't it be

00:29:58.720 --> 00:29:59.140
 great if there

00:29:59.140 --> 00:29:59.560
 was

00:29:59.559 --> 00:30:01.399
 just

00:30:01.399 --> 00:30:02.819
 hypothetically

00:30:02.819 --> 00:30:03.639
 wouldn't it

00:30:03.639 --> 00:30:04.279
 be great

00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:04.960
 if there

00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:06.000
 was someone

00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:06.579
 who could

00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:07.379
 fix the

00:30:07.379 --> 00:30:08.139
 brokenness

00:30:08.139 --> 00:30:08.919
 who could

00:30:08.919 --> 00:30:09.980
 fill the

00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:10.619
 emptiness

00:30:10.619 --> 00:30:11.599
 that we

00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:12.440
 all know

00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:13.759
 too well

00:30:13.759 --> 00:30:15.839
 friends

00:30:15.839 --> 00:30:16.240
 this is

00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:16.819
 this is

00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:17.179
 Jesus

00:30:17.179 --> 00:30:18.079
 this is

00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:18.679
 who he's

00:30:18.679 --> 00:30:19.399
 telling you

00:30:19.399 --> 00:30:19.679
 he is

00:30:19.679 --> 00:30:20.460
 he's offering

00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:21.339
 us the

00:30:21.339 --> 00:30:22.240
 good life

00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:23.240
 fully known

00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:24.200
 fully loved

00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:24.940
 forever

00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:25.960
 and he's

00:30:25.960 --> 00:30:26.480
 telling us

00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:26.740
 that that

00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:27.119
 life is

00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:27.919
 really all

00:30:27.919 --> 00:30:28.519
 about him

00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:28.779
 right

00:30:28.779 --> 00:30:29.799
 the good

00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:30.639
 life is

00:30:30.639 --> 00:30:31.319
 with the

00:30:31.319 --> 00:30:32.319
 good shepherd

00:30:32.319 --> 00:30:33.440
 you can't

00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:33.819
 have it any

00:30:33.819 --> 00:30:34.200
 other way

00:30:34.200 --> 00:30:34.599
 can you

00:30:34.599 --> 00:30:37.579
 because he's

00:30:37.579 --> 00:30:38.480
 ultimately good

00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:40.039
 he is

00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:40.839
 what is

00:30:40.839 --> 00:30:41.819
 best

00:30:41.819 --> 00:30:43.819
 see for our

00:30:43.819 --> 00:30:44.440
 versions of

00:30:44.440 --> 00:30:44.740
 the good

00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:45.240
 life Jesus

00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:46.480
 didn't have

00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:47.019
 to come

00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:49.619
 he doesn't

00:30:49.619 --> 00:30:50.240
 need to come

00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:50.759
 for me to be

00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:51.299
 a famous

00:30:51.299 --> 00:30:51.980
 wealthy

00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:52.819
 professional

00:30:52.819 --> 00:30:53.720
 baseball player

00:30:53.720 --> 00:30:54.980
 who has

00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:55.359
 peaceful

00:30:55.359 --> 00:30:55.980
 relationships

00:30:55.980 --> 00:30:56.460
 and everybody

00:30:56.460 --> 00:30:56.859
 loves him

00:30:56.859 --> 00:30:57.160
 and thinks

00:30:57.160 --> 00:30:57.740
 he's wonderful

00:30:57.740 --> 00:31:00.759
 Jesus

00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:01.420
 didn't come

00:31:01.420 --> 00:31:01.859
 so that we

00:31:01.859 --> 00:31:02.380
 could avoid

00:31:02.380 --> 00:31:03.000
 struggles

00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:04.099
 always be

00:31:04.099 --> 00:31:04.460
 healthy

00:31:04.460 --> 00:31:05.279
 make gobs

00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:05.660
 of money

00:31:05.660 --> 00:31:06.480
 impress all

00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:06.920
 our friends

00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:07.460
 fit in with

00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:07.819
 the cool

00:31:07.819 --> 00:31:08.519
 kids and wear

00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:09.240
 ourselves out

00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:09.660
 along the

00:31:09.660 --> 00:31:09.859
 way

00:31:09.859 --> 00:31:10.500
 it's not

00:31:10.500 --> 00:31:10.859
 why he

00:31:10.859 --> 00:31:11.319
 came

00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:14.400
 no

00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:15.380
 Jesus

00:31:15.380 --> 00:31:15.799
 came

00:31:15.799 --> 00:31:16.240
 he tells

00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:16.660
 us

00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:19.200
 and died

00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:21.039
 and rose

00:31:21.039 --> 00:31:23.039
 love

00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:23.180
 that we

00:31:23.180 --> 00:31:23.879
 might have

00:31:23.879 --> 00:31:24.799
 abundant

00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:25.619
 life

00:31:25.619 --> 00:31:27.259
 the true

00:31:27.259 --> 00:31:28.059
 good

00:31:28.059 --> 00:31:28.659
 life

00:31:28.659 --> 00:31:29.200
 in deep

00:31:29.200 --> 00:31:30.079
 relationships

00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:30.659
 with true

00:31:30.659 --> 00:31:31.099
 purpose

00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:31.859
 to shine

00:31:31.859 --> 00:31:32.659
 the glory

00:31:32.659 --> 00:31:33.099
 of the good

00:31:33.099 --> 00:31:33.420
 shepherd

00:31:33.420 --> 00:31:34.180
 everywhere

00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:35.039
 in a renewed

00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:35.599
 world of

00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:36.000
 justice

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:36.839
 and peace

00:31:36.839 --> 00:31:37.480
 and hope

00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:38.519
 to everyone

00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:39.980
 life in

00:31:39.980 --> 00:31:41.059
 secure love

00:31:41.059 --> 00:31:41.480
 that never

00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:41.920
 fails

00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:42.539
 and never

00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:42.940
 lets us

00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:43.139
 down

00:31:43.139 --> 00:31:43.480
 no matter

00:31:43.480 --> 00:31:43.960
 what we

00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:44.399
 walk through

00:31:44.399 --> 00:31:45.079
 how often

00:31:45.079 --> 00:31:45.599
 we stumble

00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:46.139
 how bad

00:31:46.139 --> 00:31:46.619
 we mess

00:31:46.619 --> 00:31:47.099
 it up

00:31:47.099 --> 00:31:48.000
 in life

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:48.480
 with him

00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:49.559
 that never

00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:50.359
 ends

00:31:50.359 --> 00:31:50.819
 where we

00:31:50.819 --> 00:31:51.759
 never stop

00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:52.659
 marveling

00:31:52.659 --> 00:31:53.219
 at his

00:31:53.219 --> 00:31:53.879
 grace

00:31:53.879 --> 00:31:54.539
 where we

00:31:54.539 --> 00:31:55.059
 never see

00:31:55.059 --> 00:31:55.419
 the end

00:31:55.419 --> 00:31:55.679
 of the

00:31:55.679 --> 00:31:56.359
 impact

00:31:56.359 --> 00:31:56.740
 of our

00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.179
 lives

00:31:57.179 --> 00:31:57.699
 with him

00:31:57.699 --> 00:31:58.299
 where we

00:31:58.299 --> 00:31:58.459
 never

00:31:58.459 --> 00:31:59.059
 plumb the

00:31:59.059 --> 00:31:59.319
 depths

00:31:59.319 --> 00:31:59.639
 of his

00:31:59.639 --> 00:32:00.539
 perfection

00:32:00.539 --> 00:32:00.980
 or run

00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:01.279
 out of

00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:01.599
 reasons

00:32:01.599 --> 00:32:02.359
 to praise

00:32:02.359 --> 00:32:02.579
 him

00:32:02.579 --> 00:32:02.919
 for his

00:32:02.919 --> 00:32:03.659
 goodness

00:32:03.659 --> 00:32:07.500
 Jesus

00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:08.240
 lives

00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:10.139
 he lives

00:32:10.139 --> 00:32:10.879
 to invite

00:32:10.879 --> 00:32:11.459
 you into

00:32:11.459 --> 00:32:12.299
 that life

00:32:12.299 --> 00:32:13.579
 today

00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:14.980
 if you've

00:32:14.980 --> 00:32:15.779
 never trusted

00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:16.480
 him before

00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:17.920
 would you

00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:18.519
 come and

00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:19.339
 talk to

00:32:19.339 --> 00:32:19.779
 him about

00:32:19.779 --> 00:32:20.039
 that

00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:20.559
 would you

00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:21.279
 come and

00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:22.559
 ask him

00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:23.440
 to give you

00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:23.900
 the life

00:32:23.900 --> 00:32:24.339
 that he

00:32:24.339 --> 00:32:25.180
 promises

00:32:25.180 --> 00:32:25.980
 right now

00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:26.460
 in the

00:32:26.460 --> 00:32:26.799
 midst of

00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:27.059
 whatever

00:32:27.059 --> 00:32:27.299
 you're

00:32:27.299 --> 00:32:27.519
 dealing

00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:27.740
 with

00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:28.019
 wherever

00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:28.480
 you are

00:32:28.480 --> 00:32:29.120
 don't

00:32:29.120 --> 00:32:29.579
 clean up

00:32:29.579 --> 00:32:30.019
 first

00:32:30.019 --> 00:32:30.779
 no no

00:32:30.779 --> 00:32:31.860
 pastels

00:32:31.860 --> 00:32:32.960
 not required

00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:33.940
 don't

00:32:33.940 --> 00:32:34.519
 go run

00:32:34.519 --> 00:32:35.000
 for those

00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:35.500
 in fact

00:32:35.500 --> 00:32:36.299
 perfection

00:32:36.299 --> 00:32:37.259
 not allowed

00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:38.500
 unless it's

00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:38.920
 his

00:32:38.920 --> 00:32:39.880
 so you

00:32:39.880 --> 00:32:40.420
 don't actually

00:32:40.420 --> 00:32:40.960
 get to do

00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:41.380
 the work

00:32:41.380 --> 00:32:41.980
 you just

00:32:41.980 --> 00:32:42.440
 come to

00:32:42.440 --> 00:32:42.880
 him

00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:43.980
 he's eager

00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:44.579
 to receive

00:32:44.579 --> 00:32:45.259
 you he invites

00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:45.660
 you right

00:32:45.660 --> 00:32:45.980
 where you

00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:46.279
 are

00:32:46.279 --> 00:32:48.639
 he gives

00:32:48.639 --> 00:32:49.119
 that life

00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:49.680
 right here

00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:50.279
 in this

00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:50.639
 struggle

00:32:50.639 --> 00:32:51.920
 and forever

00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:53.519
 in glory

00:32:53.519 --> 00:32:56.920
 I also

00:32:56.920 --> 00:32:57.500
 suspect there

00:32:57.500 --> 00:32:57.819
 are a bunch

00:32:57.819 --> 00:32:58.139
 of us

00:32:58.139 --> 00:32:58.460
 in here

00:32:58.460 --> 00:32:58.879
 who have

00:32:58.879 --> 00:32:59.259
 come to

00:32:59.259 --> 00:32:59.639
 Jesus

00:32:59.639 --> 00:33:00.759
 who have

00:33:00.759 --> 00:33:01.259
 tasted

00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:02.200
 that life

00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:02.779
 that he

00:33:02.779 --> 00:33:03.240
 offers

00:33:03.240 --> 00:33:04.119
 but who

00:33:04.119 --> 00:33:05.000
 are struggling

00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:06.700
 to think

00:33:06.700 --> 00:33:06.980
 of their

00:33:06.980 --> 00:33:07.440
 life as

00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:07.839
 abundant

00:33:07.839 --> 00:33:08.539
 right now

00:33:08.539 --> 00:33:11.059
 perhaps

00:33:11.059 --> 00:33:11.559
 even on

00:33:11.559 --> 00:33:11.779
 Easter

00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:12.059
 maybe

00:33:12.059 --> 00:33:12.779
 especially

00:33:12.779 --> 00:33:13.500
 on Easter

00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:16.420
 we need

00:33:16.420 --> 00:33:16.839
 to come

00:33:16.839 --> 00:33:17.759
 to Jesus

00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:18.079
 too

00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:18.539
 don't we

00:33:18.539 --> 00:33:20.259
 listen

00:33:20.259 --> 00:33:20.960
 to his

00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:21.460
 voice

00:33:21.460 --> 00:33:21.859
 he's the

00:33:21.859 --> 00:33:22.460
 good shepherd

00:33:22.460 --> 00:33:24.359
 ask him

00:33:24.359 --> 00:33:25.460
 and nothing

00:33:25.460 --> 00:33:25.859
 else

00:33:25.859 --> 00:33:26.759
 to give you

00:33:26.759 --> 00:33:27.420
 the life

00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:27.859
 that he

00:33:27.859 --> 00:33:28.440
 promises

00:33:28.440 --> 00:33:30.799
 he says

00:33:30.799 --> 00:33:31.259
 I am

00:33:31.259 --> 00:33:31.660
 the good

00:33:31.660 --> 00:33:32.039
 shepherd

00:33:32.039 --> 00:33:34.160
 I lay

00:33:34.160 --> 00:33:34.619
 down my

00:33:34.619 --> 00:33:35.099
 life

00:33:35.099 --> 00:33:36.019
 for the

00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:36.400
 sheep

00:33:36.400 --> 00:33:37.720
 no one

00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:38.119
 takes it

00:33:38.119 --> 00:33:38.640
 from me

00:33:38.640 --> 00:33:39.759
 but I lay

00:33:39.759 --> 00:33:40.180
 it down

00:33:40.180 --> 00:33:40.660
 of my own

00:33:40.660 --> 00:33:41.019
 accord

00:33:41.019 --> 00:33:42.339
 I have

00:33:42.339 --> 00:33:42.720
 authority

00:33:42.720 --> 00:33:43.039
 to lay

00:33:43.039 --> 00:33:43.500
 it down

00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:44.859
 and authority

00:33:44.859 --> 00:33:45.279
 to take

00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:45.519
 it up

00:33:45.519 --> 00:33:45.839
 again

00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:47.200
 I give

00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:47.700
 my sheep

00:33:47.700 --> 00:33:48.139
 eternal

00:33:48.139 --> 00:33:48.639
 life

00:33:48.639 --> 00:33:49.660
 and they

00:33:49.660 --> 00:33:50.019
 will never

00:33:50.019 --> 00:33:50.599
 perish

00:33:50.599 --> 00:33:51.579
 and no one

00:33:51.579 --> 00:33:52.299
 will snatch

00:33:52.299 --> 00:33:52.700
 them out

00:33:52.700 --> 00:33:53.019
 of my

00:33:53.019 --> 00:33:53.500
 hand

00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:55.660
 I came

00:33:55.660 --> 00:33:56.160
 that they

00:33:56.160 --> 00:33:56.559
 might have

00:33:56.559 --> 00:33:57.019
 life

00:33:57.019 --> 00:33:58.720
 and have

00:33:58.720 --> 00:33:59.420
 it abundantly

00:33:59.420 --> 00:34:01.160
 let's pray

00:34:01.160 --> 00:34:05.319
 Jesus

00:34:05.319 --> 00:34:05.920
 would you

00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:07.539
 indeed give

00:34:07.539 --> 00:34:07.900
 us

00:34:07.900 --> 00:34:09.300
 such life

00:34:09.300 --> 00:34:10.519
 free us

00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:12.340
 from the

00:34:12.340 --> 00:34:13.000
 places that

00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:13.460
 we are

00:34:13.460 --> 00:34:14.119
 frantically

00:34:14.119 --> 00:34:14.679
 running

00:34:14.679 --> 00:34:15.579
 trying to

00:34:15.579 --> 00:34:16.039
 make our

00:34:16.039 --> 00:34:16.860
 life good

00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:21.119
 bring us

00:34:21.119 --> 00:34:21.679
 back to

00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:21.960
 you

00:34:21.960 --> 00:34:25.199
 show us

00:34:25.199 --> 00:34:27.219
 the hope

00:34:27.219 --> 00:34:28.759
 the purpose

00:34:28.759 --> 00:34:29.719
 the joy

00:34:29.719 --> 00:34:30.780
 that we can

00:34:30.780 --> 00:34:31.119
 know in

00:34:31.119 --> 00:34:31.739
 relationship

00:34:31.739 --> 00:34:32.360
 with you

00:34:32.360 --> 00:34:35.139
 thank you

00:34:35.139 --> 00:34:35.960
 for meeting

00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:36.380
 with us

00:34:36.380 --> 00:34:36.820
 this morning

00:34:36.820 --> 00:34:37.259
 thank you

00:34:37.259 --> 00:34:37.559
 that you're

00:34:37.559 --> 00:34:38.059
 alive

00:34:38.059 --> 00:34:39.380
 that gives

00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:39.900
 us hope

00:34:39.900 --> 00:34:41.119
 and so

00:34:41.119 --> 00:34:41.539
 would you

00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:42.300
 meet us

00:34:42.300 --> 00:34:42.880
 even now

00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:43.660
 as you

00:34:43.660 --> 00:34:43.940
 work in

00:34:43.940 --> 00:34:44.539
 our hearts

00:34:44.539 --> 00:34:46.800
 help us

00:34:46.800 --> 00:34:47.019
 to hear

00:34:47.019 --> 00:34:47.599
 your voice

00:34:47.599 --> 00:34:49.280
 to know

00:34:49.280 --> 00:34:49.740
 your love

00:34:49.740 --> 00:34:51.059
 to rest

00:34:51.059 --> 00:34:51.360
 in your

00:34:51.360 --> 00:34:51.680
 care

00:34:51.680 --> 00:34:53.059
 amen

00:34:53.059 --> 00:34:55.779
 for more

00:34:55.779 --> 00:34:56.320
 information

00:34:56.320 --> 00:34:57.139
 visit us

00:34:57.139 --> 00:34:57.579
 online

00:34:57.579 --> 00:34:57.840
 at

00:34:57.840 --> 00:34:58.659
 southwood.org

00:34:58.659 --> 00:34:59.599
 and

00:34:59.920 --> 00:35:02.359
 mmm

00:35:02.359 --> 00:35:06.819
 to