WEBVTT

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 Gospel of Luke chapter 4.

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 If you're looking in one of the Pew Bibles, it's page 859.

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 As we prepare to look into God's Word, let's pray.

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 Lord, as we just sung, we acknowledge you as the fount of every blessing.

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 Lord, we acknowledge that we are prone to wander away.

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 We pray that through your Word this morning that you would once again seal our hearts,

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 work in us by your Spirit to draw us near to you,

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 to assure us of your grace and mercy,

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 and to call us and equip us for what you've called us to do.

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 Be with us today in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 Well, this morning we're beginning a new series in the Gospel of Luke entitled,

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 Who is This?

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 From now until Easter, we'll be walking through chapters 4 through 8 of the Gospel of Luke.

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 And we've chosen this part of Scripture to focus on,

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 partly because it's just been a few years since we've preached through part of one of the Gospels in the morning service,

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 and partly because the Gospels, perhaps more than any other part of Scripture,

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 focus our attention directly on the person of Jesus.

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 The heart of Christianity is not just a theological idea,

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 or an ethical directive,

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 or a spiritual experience.

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 At the heart of Christianity is the person of Jesus Christ.

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 And one of the main questions that the disciples and the crowds ask over and over in this section of Luke is,

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 Who is this one?

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 And Jesus himself will ask that question to his disciples,

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 Who do you say that I am?

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 And that's the question we want to focus on over the next few months,

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 is looking at the person of Jesus.

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 If you're not a follower of Jesus,

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 if you're exploring Christianity,

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 this is a great series for you,

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 because we're focusing on the person who's right at the heart of the Christian faith.

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 This is who it's all about.

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 This is the one on whom Christianity stands or falls.

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 This is the person whom you need to know above all else.

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 If you're a new believer in Jesus,

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 this will help you grow.

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 As we look at the beginning of Jesus' ministry,

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 when he calls his disciples to him,

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 and begins teaching them who he is and what he's all about.

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 And if you've been following Jesus for a long time,

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 I hope that this time in the Gospel of Luke will refocus our attention once again,

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 on the one who is truly central in our faith.

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 And sometimes we can get distracted,

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 even disillusioned by life's trials and troubles.

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 Sometimes we can get excited and engaged in many good and worthwhile endeavors.

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 But along the way, we can lose our focus on Jesus himself.

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 And I hope this series will help us fix our eyes on him in a fresh way.

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 So this morning we're reading Luke chapter 4, verses 14 to 30.

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 Let's read these verses together.

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

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

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

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 And he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up.

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 And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day,

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 and he stood up to read.

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

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

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 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

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 because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

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 He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives,

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 and recovering of sight to the blind.

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 To set at liberty those who are oppressed,

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 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

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

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

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 And he began to say to them,

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 Today, this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.

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 And all spoke well of him,

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 and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth.

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 Then they said,

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 Is not this Joseph's son?

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 And he said to them,

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 Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb,

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 Physician, heal yourself.

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 What we have heard you did in Capernaum,

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 do here in your hometown as well.

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 And he said,

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 Truly I say to you,

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 no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.

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 But in truth I tell you,

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 there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah,

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

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 and a great famine came over all the land,

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 and Elijah was sent to none of them,

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 but only to Zarephath,

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 in the land of Sidon,

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 to a woman who was a widow.

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 And there were many lepers in Israel

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 in the time of the prophet Elisha,

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 and none of them was cleansed,

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 but only Naaman the Syrian.

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 When they heard these things,

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 all in the synagogue were filled with wrath,

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 and they rose up and drove him out of the town

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 and brought him to the brow of the hill

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 on which their town was built

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 so that they could throw him down the cliff.

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 But passing through their midst,

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 he went away.

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 This morning we're looking at

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 the opening of Jesus' public ministry

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 in the Gospel of Luke,

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 his inaugural speech, if you will,

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 that sets the stage for all that is to come.

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 And this morning we'll see two main things

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 about Jesus and his mission.

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 The first thing that we'll see

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 is that Jesus came to comfort the afflicted.

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 Verse 14 to 22.

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 The first half of this passage

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 is focused primarily on Jesus' words

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 in verses 18 and 19.

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 If you notice, verse 16 to 20

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 all sort of surround these words.

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 Verse 16 begins,

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 he went to the synagogue,

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 he stood up to read,

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 the scroll was given to him,

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 he unrolls the scroll,

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 and then he reads.

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 And then the same things happen

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 in reverse order.

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 He rolls up the scroll,

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 he gives it back,

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 he sits down,

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 and then there's another reference

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 to the people in the synagogue.

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 And so this beginning of this passage

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 focuses us on these words

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 that he quotes from the prophet Isaiah,

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 and then what he says in verse 21,

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 today this scripture has been fulfilled

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 in your hearing.

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 Jesus came to comfort the afflicted.

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 And he did so by teaching from the scriptures.

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 That's the,

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 under the heading of comforting the afflicted,

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 I want to make three sub points,

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 and this is the first one.

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 He comforted the afflicted from the scriptures.

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 Now this is actually the only recorded sermon

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 of Jesus in a synagogue

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 that we have recorded for us in the gospels.

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 And obviously it's a summary of what he said,

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 it's not every word he said,

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 but the focus is

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 how Jesus' ministry is to be interpreted

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 by scripture,

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 how he's the fulfillment of scripture.

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 The first thing Jesus did to begin his public ministry

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 was reading the scriptures.

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 So we see that Jesus' public ministry

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 was not only about healing sicknesses

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 or driving out demons

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 or being present with hurting people,

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 though he would do all of those things,

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 it began with proclaiming and teaching

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 the word of God.

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 Verse 15 says,

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 he taught in their synagogues.

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 And that's a word that indicates

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 an ongoing pattern,

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 not just a one-time action.

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 But this was what Jesus was going around doing,

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 teaching.

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 Now, of course,

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 Jesus' word and Jesus' works go together.

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 Jesus did all the kinds of works

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 that he talks about in his word.

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 But here we see the importance of the scriptures

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 to Jesus and his ministry.

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 And before we get into the content of those,

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 I want us to see that we can't understand Jesus

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 apart from the scriptures that he quoted.

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 You know, even think about it.

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 When Jesus stood up,

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 they gave him a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

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 Now, if you've ever read Isaiah,

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 it's a long book.

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 Right now, in the modern Bibles,

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 there are 66 chapters.

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 Back then, there were no chapter and verse divisions.

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 It was just a long scroll.

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 So how did Jesus know where to turn in the scroll?

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 Think about it.

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 Most of us would get up there,

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 they give you a big scroll,

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 and you think,

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 hmm, yeah, there's this passage

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 that's in here somewhere.

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 Hmm, hmm, is it here?

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 Fumbling around for five minutes.

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 Jesus wasn't fumbling around for five minutes.

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 He opened the scroll.

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 He knew the scriptures because he had studied them.

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 He had meditated on them.

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 He had reflected on them.

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 He knew the scriptures.

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 And so he could open up the scriptures

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 and speak to the people

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 and speak about what he himself

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 had come to do and to be.

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 So let me encourage us

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 in this new year to read the scriptures.

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 You know, maybe you have trouble reading.

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 Well, there are many other options.

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 You can listen to the Bible on CD.

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 You can download it on your phone.

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 Listen to it while you're in the car,

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 on the bus, walking to work.

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 Maybe you have trouble understanding the scriptures.

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 Join a Bible study group.

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 Or talk to someone

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 who's maybe been a Christian for a little while

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 and say, I'm having trouble understanding.

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 Can we get together and read the Bible together?

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 If you're not sure who to ask,

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 come and talk to one of the pastors or the elders.

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 Or to one of the Bible study leaders.

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 If Jesus defined his own ministry

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 with reference to the scriptures,

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 so must we.

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 If Jesus prioritized teaching

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 and learning from the scriptures,

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 so must we.

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 If Jesus looked, directed his hearers

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 to the scriptures to find comfort

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 and direction, so must we.

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 So brothers and sisters,

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 let us spend time in God's word this year.

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 Sometimes we can look for comfort

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 when we long for comfort everywhere else

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 except in the word of God.

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 And Jesus says, start in the word of God.

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 That's how he comforts the afflicted

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 through the word of God.

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 Second sub point,

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 Jesus came to comfort the afflicted

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 as God's servant.

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 Now Jesus quoted

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 from the passage we read earlier

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 in the service, Isaiah 61,

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 the spirit of the Lord is upon me

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 because he has anointed me.

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 Now if you read the book of Isaiah,

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 and especially if you come to chapter 42,

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 you'll notice that Isaiah

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 at several points

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 talks about this figure

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 whom he calls

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 the servant of the Lord.

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 So chapter 42 of Isaiah begins,

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 behold my servant

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 whom I uphold,

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 I have put my spirit upon him.

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 So Isaiah is speaking

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 of this person

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 who is a spirit-filled servant

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 of the Lord.

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 Now in some ways,

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 does Isaiah see himself

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 as that spirit-filled servant

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 of the Lord?

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 Perhaps in some ways.

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 Does he see Israel as a nation,

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 as being called to that?

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 Perhaps in some ways.

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 But Jesus sees himself

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 as the ultimate,

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 as the fulfillment

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 of Isaiah's figure,

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 of the servant.

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 So let me just sort of

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 explain this figure of the servant

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 a little that Isaiah speaks about.

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 So Isaiah 42 begins,

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 behold my servant,

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 I've put my spirit upon him.

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 And then we see this servant

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 is gentle and compassionate

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 to comfort.

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 Chapter 42, verses 2 and 3,

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 he will not cry aloud

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 or lift up his voice

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 or make it heard in the street.

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 A bruised reed

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 he will not break

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 and a faintly burning wick

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 he will not snuff out.

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 He's gentle.

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 He's compassionate

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 to comfort the weak

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 and helpless.

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 But he's also powerful

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 and mighty to save.

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 Chapter 42, verse 6 and 7,

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 I will give you

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 as a covenant for the people,

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 a light for the nations

00:12:46.160 --> 00:12:47.680
 to open blind eyes,

00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:48.759
 to bring out prisoners

00:12:48.759 --> 00:12:49.600
 from the dungeon,

00:12:50.100 --> 00:12:50.720
 from the prison,

00:12:50.820 --> 00:12:52.400
 those who sit in darkness.

00:12:53.700 --> 00:12:54.720
 Isaiah 49 says

00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:55.360
 that the servant

00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:56.700
 will bring salvation

00:12:56.700 --> 00:12:57.580
 not just to Israel

00:12:57.580 --> 00:12:58.900
 but to the ends of the earth.

00:13:00.040 --> 00:13:00.400
 He says,

00:13:00.460 --> 00:13:01.300
 I will make you a light

00:13:01.300 --> 00:13:02.000
 to the nations

00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:03.020
 that my salvation

00:13:03.020 --> 00:13:03.940
 may reach to the end

00:13:03.940 --> 00:13:04.480
 of the earth.

00:13:05.160 --> 00:13:06.000
 And then if you go on,

00:13:06.040 --> 00:13:08.080
 Isaiah 50 and 52 and 53

00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:09.380
 speak about the suffering

00:13:09.380 --> 00:13:11.220
 and then the victory

00:13:11.220 --> 00:13:12.140
 of this servant.

00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:14.380
 He's one who would be

00:13:14.380 --> 00:13:15.660
 despised and rejected,

00:13:17.220 --> 00:13:18.280
 a man of sorrows,

00:13:18.520 --> 00:13:19.820
 well acquainted with grief,

00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:22.200
 one who would be pierced

00:13:22.200 --> 00:13:23.360
 for our transgressions,

00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:25.760
 crushed for our iniquities.

00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:27.720
 He would suffer

00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:30.380
 in the place of sinners.

00:13:30.379 --> 00:13:33.259
 And then yet he would be victorious.

00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:34.860
 The end of chapter 53 says,

00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:36.000
 he shall see his offspring

00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:37.820
 and prolong his days.

00:13:38.299 --> 00:13:39.000
 The righteous one,

00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:39.620
 my servant,

00:13:39.720 --> 00:13:40.480
 shall make many

00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:42.080
 to be accounted righteous.

00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:44.240
 And Isaiah 61,

00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:46.419
 even though it doesn't use

00:13:46.419 --> 00:13:47.139
 the phrase,

00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:48.379
 the servant of the Lord,

00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:50.779
 it seems very clearly

00:13:50.779 --> 00:13:51.720
 to be talking about

00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:53.059
 the same person.

00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:55.480
 Look at these verses

00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:56.500
 that Jesus quotes from.

00:13:56.600 --> 00:13:57.539
 The spirit of the Lord

00:13:57.539 --> 00:13:58.259
 is upon me.

00:13:58.259 --> 00:14:00.879
 He's a spirit anointed person.

00:14:02.220 --> 00:14:03.039
 And Luke has pointed out

00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:04.039
 several times

00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:05.480
 Jesus is full of the spirit.

00:14:05.899 --> 00:14:07.539
 Chapter 4, verse 1 and 14.

00:14:08.139 --> 00:14:09.480
 He's gentle and compassionate

00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:10.200
 to comfort,

00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:12.759
 bringing good news to the poor.

00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:15.000
 Isaiah speaks of him

00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:16.360
 binding up the brokenhearted.

00:14:17.340 --> 00:14:18.539
 But he's also powerful

00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:19.759
 and mighty to save,

00:14:20.819 --> 00:14:21.580
 proclaiming liberty

00:14:21.580 --> 00:14:22.639
 to the captives

00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:24.039
 and recovering of sight

00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:24.840
 to the blind.

00:14:26.340 --> 00:14:27.279
 And as we'll see later

00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:27.899
 in this passage,

00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:29.059
 he came to bring salvation

00:14:29.059 --> 00:14:31.259
 not just for the people of Israel

00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:32.439
 but to all the nations

00:14:32.439 --> 00:14:33.100
 of the earth.

00:14:34.819 --> 00:14:35.679
 And later on,

00:14:35.720 --> 00:14:36.399
 the Gospel of Luke

00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:37.159
 will show us

00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:39.059
 that the salvation

00:14:39.059 --> 00:14:40.179
 Jesus came to bring

00:14:40.179 --> 00:14:41.659
 would come through

00:14:41.659 --> 00:14:42.220
 his suffering

00:14:42.220 --> 00:14:43.679
 and ultimately

00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:44.360
 through his death

00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:44.980
 on the cross.

00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:46.079
 That's how he would

00:14:46.079 --> 00:14:46.959
 achieve his victory.

00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:48.980
 So Luke is introducing us

00:14:48.980 --> 00:14:49.879
 and Jesus is saying,

00:14:50.059 --> 00:14:51.519
 I am this servant

00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:52.740
 of the Lord,

00:14:53.559 --> 00:14:54.419
 the one of whom

00:14:54.419 --> 00:14:55.379
 Isaiah prophesied

00:14:55.379 --> 00:14:56.220
 so long ago.

00:14:56.220 --> 00:14:59.460
 in him,

00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:00.060
 in Jesus,

00:15:00.160 --> 00:15:00.680
 we will find

00:15:00.680 --> 00:15:01.379
 all the strength

00:15:01.379 --> 00:15:02.940
 and all the comfort

00:15:02.940 --> 00:15:04.560
 and all the salvation

00:15:04.560 --> 00:15:05.259
 that we need.

00:15:06.920 --> 00:15:07.279
 You see,

00:15:07.340 --> 00:15:08.019
 when Jesus preached,

00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:08.740
 he didn't just start

00:15:08.740 --> 00:15:10.220
 by giving us good advice.

00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:13.100
 He didn't just start

00:15:13.100 --> 00:15:13.720
 by saying,

00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:14.879
 here are the things

00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:15.920
 that you need to change

00:15:15.920 --> 00:15:16.980
 to make your life better.

00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:19.920
 He started by saying,

00:15:20.259 --> 00:15:21.840
 God has sent me.

00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:23.860
 This is what I've come

00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:24.240
 to do.

00:15:25.040 --> 00:15:25.840
 I've come to do

00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:26.660
 what you could never

00:15:26.660 --> 00:15:28.360
 do on your own.

00:15:30.860 --> 00:15:31.720
 I've come to bring

00:15:31.720 --> 00:15:32.340
 good news

00:15:32.340 --> 00:15:34.120
 that you could never earn

00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:35.600
 and never deserve.

00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:38.280
 So Jesus came

00:15:38.280 --> 00:15:39.120
 to comfort the afflicted

00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:39.740
 through the Scriptures.

00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:40.620
 He came to comfort

00:15:40.620 --> 00:15:41.259
 the afflicted

00:15:41.259 --> 00:15:42.080
 as God's servant.

00:15:42.460 --> 00:15:43.300
 And he came to comfort

00:15:43.300 --> 00:15:43.920
 the afflicted

00:15:43.920 --> 00:15:44.639
 both physically

00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:45.540
 and spiritually.

00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:46.940
 You know,

00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:47.920
 many people have asked,

00:15:48.800 --> 00:15:49.240
 well,

00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:50.720
 who is Jesus speaking about?

00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:51.720
 Is he speaking about

00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:52.379
 people who are

00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:54.060
 physically poor,

00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:55.420
 blind,

00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:56.259
 oppressed?

00:15:56.660 --> 00:15:57.300
 Or is he speaking

00:15:57.300 --> 00:15:59.600
 about spiritual poverty,

00:16:00.139 --> 00:16:00.519
 blindness,

00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:01.340
 oppression?

00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:03.180
 I think the answer

00:16:03.180 --> 00:16:04.360
 is yes.

00:16:05.420 --> 00:16:06.139
 Both.

00:16:07.460 --> 00:16:09.100
 There's an important sense

00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:09.740
 in which Jesus

00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:10.620
 is speaking about

00:16:10.620 --> 00:16:11.960
 people who are literally

00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:12.899
 poor,

00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:14.340
 captive,

00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:15.440
 blind,

00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:16.300
 and oppressed.

00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:18.320
 Howard Thurman,

00:16:19.040 --> 00:16:20.060
 who is a close friend

00:16:20.059 --> 00:16:20.839
 of Martin Luther King,

00:16:20.979 --> 00:16:22.059
 Sr.,

00:16:22.059 --> 00:16:22.859
 wrote this

00:16:22.859 --> 00:16:25.259
 back in about 1949.

00:16:25.579 --> 00:16:25.819
 He said,

00:16:25.899 --> 00:16:27.119
 I can count on the fingers

00:16:27.119 --> 00:16:28.000
 of one hand

00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:29.619
 the number of times

00:16:29.619 --> 00:16:30.239
 that I have heard

00:16:30.239 --> 00:16:31.299
 a sermon on the meaning

00:16:31.299 --> 00:16:32.039
 of Christianity

00:16:32.039 --> 00:16:33.859
 to the man who stands

00:16:33.859 --> 00:16:34.599
 with his back

00:16:34.599 --> 00:16:35.859
 against the wall.

00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:37.819
 The masses of men

00:16:37.819 --> 00:16:38.479
 and women live

00:16:38.479 --> 00:16:39.179
 with their backs

00:16:39.179 --> 00:16:40.379
 constantly against

00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:41.259
 the wall.

00:16:42.219 --> 00:16:43.019
 They are the poor,

00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:44.500
 the disinherited,

00:16:45.079 --> 00:16:46.059
 the dispossessed.

00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:47.699
 What does Christianity

00:16:47.700 --> 00:16:48.540
 say to them?

00:16:49.540 --> 00:16:50.620
 The search for an answer

00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:51.320
 to this question

00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:52.320
 is perhaps the most

00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:53.860
 important religious quest

00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:54.740
 of modern life.

00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:56.759
 And maybe that's exactly

00:16:56.759 --> 00:16:57.440
 how you feel.

00:16:57.520 --> 00:16:58.360
 You feel like your back

00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.280
 is against the wall.

00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:01.340
 You feel desperate,

00:17:02.460 --> 00:17:02.879
 trapped,

00:17:03.860 --> 00:17:04.380
 distressed,

00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:05.700
 depressed.

00:17:06.580 --> 00:17:07.559
 Impossible demands

00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:08.539
 are being made of you.

00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:10.220
 How can you ever meet them?

00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:11.519
 Terrible things

00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:12.440
 have been done to you.

00:17:13.400 --> 00:17:14.319
 Is there any hope

00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:15.420
 of healing?

00:17:15.420 --> 00:17:17.800
 Life seems perpetually

00:17:17.800 --> 00:17:18.340
 overwhelming

00:17:18.340 --> 00:17:19.060
 and there seems

00:17:19.060 --> 00:17:19.920
 no way out.

00:17:20.320 --> 00:17:20.980
 And Jesus speaks

00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:22.600
 specifically to you

00:17:22.600 --> 00:17:23.580
 here.

00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:25.980
 You know,

00:17:26.019 --> 00:17:26.779
 he doesn't just say

00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:27.660
 I've come for anybody

00:17:27.660 --> 00:17:28.400
 and everybody,

00:17:28.860 --> 00:17:29.940
 though he will say that

00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:30.640
 at other times.

00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:31.300
 He says I've come

00:17:31.300 --> 00:17:31.920
 for the poor,

00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:33.279
 for the captives,

00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:34.320
 for the blind,

00:17:34.600 --> 00:17:35.300
 for the oppressed,

00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:36.240
 for the people who

00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:37.720
 would think that

00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:39.000
 anybody and everybody

00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:40.920
 means anybody

00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:42.259
 and everybody else

00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:44.240
 except me.

00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:46.599
 and Jesus says

00:17:46.599 --> 00:17:47.500
 to you specifically

00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:48.940
 I've come for you.

00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:52.859
 He chose to be born

00:17:52.859 --> 00:17:55.539
 as a Jew

00:17:55.539 --> 00:17:56.579
 in the line of Abraham

00:17:56.579 --> 00:17:58.779
 in a time and place

00:17:58.779 --> 00:17:59.420
 where Jews were

00:17:59.420 --> 00:18:00.559
 an oppressed minority

00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:02.039
 in a family

00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:03.000
 that was not rich

00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:04.960
 because he wants

00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:05.460
 to communicate

00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:06.319
 he can identify

00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:07.059
 with you

00:18:07.059 --> 00:18:08.640
 whatever your

00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:10.220
 affliction may be.

00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:12.799
 And you know,

00:18:12.860 --> 00:18:13.220
 in the history

00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:13.620
 of the world,

00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:14.339
 whenever Jesus'

00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:15.120
 teachings have been

00:18:15.120 --> 00:18:16.220
 taken seriously,

00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:18.019
 the poor,

00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:18.920
 the captives,

00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:19.480
 the blind,

00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:20.100
 the oppressed

00:18:20.100 --> 00:18:21.180
 have found renewed

00:18:21.180 --> 00:18:22.900
 hope and joy

00:18:22.900 --> 00:18:24.660
 and they've been

00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:25.700
 treated with increased

00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:26.259
 dignity

00:18:26.259 --> 00:18:27.500
 and compassion.

00:18:28.660 --> 00:18:29.420
 Even many

00:18:29.420 --> 00:18:30.380
 non-Christians

00:18:30.380 --> 00:18:31.220
 have recognized

00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:31.799
 this.

00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:33.180
 In the ancient world,

00:18:34.019 --> 00:18:34.519
 in the fourth

00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:35.160
 century AD,

00:18:36.120 --> 00:18:36.920
 the pagan Roman

00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:37.799
 emperor Julian

00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:38.559
 said this.

00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:38.919
 He said,

00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:40.019
 these impious

00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:40.940
 Galileans,

00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:42.240
 that was his

00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:43.019
 derogatory name

00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:43.579
 for Christians,

00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:45.500
 these impious

00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:46.720
 Galileans not only

00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:47.559
 feed their own

00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:48.200
 poor people,

00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:49.379
 they feed ours.

00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:50.679
 Also,

00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:51.899
 they devote

00:18:51.899 --> 00:18:52.559
 themselves to

00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:53.379
 works of charity,

00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:55.159
 see their love

00:18:55.159 --> 00:18:55.740
 feasts,

00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:57.119
 their Christian

00:18:57.119 --> 00:18:57.639
 assemblies,

00:18:57.720 --> 00:18:58.359
 and their tables

00:18:58.359 --> 00:18:59.039
 spread for the

00:18:59.039 --> 00:18:59.519
 destitute.

00:18:59.639 --> 00:19:00.259
 Such practice

00:19:00.259 --> 00:19:01.019
 is common

00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:02.059
 among them

00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:02.960
 and causes

00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:04.159
 contempt for

00:19:04.159 --> 00:19:04.759
 our traditional

00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:05.679
 pagan gods.

00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:07.359
 Or in the

00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:08.079
 modern world,

00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:09.159
 Gandhi.

00:19:09.879 --> 00:19:10.659
 Gandhi never

00:19:10.659 --> 00:19:11.079
 embraced

00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:11.619
 Christianity.

00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:13.899
 He said he was

00:19:13.899 --> 00:19:14.539
 a Hindu to the

00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:14.919
 end of his

00:19:14.919 --> 00:19:15.299
 life,

00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:16.099
 but he was

00:19:16.099 --> 00:19:16.919
 deeply attracted

00:19:16.919 --> 00:19:17.859
 to something

00:19:17.859 --> 00:19:18.399
 in Jesus,

00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:19.859
 in the Sermon

00:19:19.859 --> 00:19:20.419
 on the Mount,

00:19:21.179 --> 00:19:21.720
 and in Jesus'

00:19:21.919 --> 00:19:22.559
 example of

00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:23.419
 self-sacrificial

00:19:23.419 --> 00:19:23.980
 love.

00:19:25.139 --> 00:19:25.659
 And his

00:19:25.659 --> 00:19:26.599
 non-violent

00:19:26.599 --> 00:19:27.679
 movement was

00:19:27.679 --> 00:19:28.679
 deeply influenced

00:19:28.679 --> 00:19:29.399
 by Jesus'

00:19:29.919 --> 00:19:30.879
 example and

00:19:30.879 --> 00:19:31.299
 teachings.

00:19:32.899 --> 00:19:33.460
 Or consider

00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:34.139
 Jürgen

00:19:34.139 --> 00:19:34.839
 Habermas,

00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:36.179
 the Christian

00:19:36.179 --> 00:19:36.519
 social,

00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:38.439
 he's not a

00:19:38.439 --> 00:19:38.659
 Christian,

00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:39.199
 the German

00:19:39.199 --> 00:19:40.240
 social theorist

00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:41.220
 who wrote

00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:41.679
 this,

00:19:42.959 --> 00:19:43.839
 the ideals

00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:44.500
 of freedom,

00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:46.319
 conscience,

00:19:47.159 --> 00:19:47.919
 human rights,

00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:49.240
 and democracy

00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:50.980
 are the direct

00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:53.000
 legacy of the

00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:53.899
 Judaic ethic

00:19:53.899 --> 00:19:54.639
 of justice,

00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:55.179
 that is the

00:19:55.179 --> 00:19:55.619
 Old Testament

00:19:55.619 --> 00:19:56.559
 ethic of justice,

00:19:56.679 --> 00:19:57.379
 and the Christian

00:19:57.379 --> 00:19:58.379
 ethic of love.

00:19:59.539 --> 00:20:00.379
 Up to this

00:20:00.379 --> 00:20:01.139
 very day,

00:20:01.699 --> 00:20:02.639
 there is no

00:20:02.639 --> 00:20:04.240
 alternative to it.

00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:06.539
 everything else

00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:07.480
 is idle

00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:08.579
 post-modern

00:20:08.579 --> 00:20:09.279
 talk.

00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:11.440
 Strong words

00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:12.079
 from a scholar

00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:13.299
 who back in

00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:14.099
 the 80s said,

00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:15.519
 religion is just

00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:16.460
 an alienating

00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:17.680
 reality and a

00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:18.539
 tool of control.

00:20:20.180 --> 00:20:20.880
 And he says,

00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:23.039
 the Jewish

00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:23.700
 and Christian

00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:24.759
 legacy of

00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:25.480
 justice and

00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:27.079
 love that

00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:27.500
 comes from

00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:27.940
 the Bible

00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:29.960
 is the root

00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:30.900
 of our ideals

00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:31.579
 of freedom,

00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:32.339
 conscience,

00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:33.400
 human rights,

00:20:33.400 --> 00:20:34.340
 and democracy.

00:20:35.540 --> 00:20:36.000
 Yes,

00:20:36.040 --> 00:20:36.440
 the Bible

00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:36.820
 has been

00:20:36.820 --> 00:20:37.519
 misused

00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:39.080
 to control

00:20:39.080 --> 00:20:39.740
 and manipulate

00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.220
 people.

00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:40.620
 Yes,

00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:41.060
 the Bible

00:20:41.060 --> 00:20:41.440
 has been

00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.140
 twisted out

00:20:42.140 --> 00:20:42.800
 of context

00:20:42.800 --> 00:20:43.960
 to support

00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:45.460
 slavery and

00:20:45.460 --> 00:20:46.220
 segregation and

00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:46.800
 all kinds of

00:20:46.800 --> 00:20:47.380
 other evils,

00:20:47.380 --> 00:20:48.320
 but Jesus came

00:20:48.320 --> 00:20:49.100
 to bring good

00:20:49.100 --> 00:20:50.519
 news for the

00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:51.160
 poor and the

00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:51.600
 oppressed.

00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:52.340
 And whenever

00:20:52.340 --> 00:20:52.920
 people have

00:20:52.920 --> 00:20:53.480
 taken his

00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:54.480
 teachings seriously,

00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:55.519
 it has made

00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:56.440
 a difference.

00:20:56.440 --> 00:20:59.480
 Jesus is not

00:20:59.480 --> 00:20:59.980
 just speaking

00:20:59.980 --> 00:21:00.519
 about people

00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:00.779
 who are

00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:01.279
 physically

00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:02.940
 poor,

00:21:03.420 --> 00:21:03.840
 captive,

00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:04.660
 blind,

00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:05.380
 and oppressed.

00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:07.019
 He's also

00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:07.620
 speaking about

00:21:07.620 --> 00:21:08.259
 a spiritual

00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:09.299
 reality.

00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:12.279
 And this is

00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:12.779
 actually a

00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:13.160
 challenging

00:21:13.160 --> 00:21:14.200
 thing because

00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:14.900
 Jesus is saying,

00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:15.960
 do you realize

00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:17.279
 that you too

00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:19.759
 are spiritually

00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.700
 speaking

00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.980
 poor,

00:21:22.580 --> 00:21:23.000
 captive,

00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:23.840
 blind,

00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:24.579
 and oppressed.

00:21:26.859 --> 00:21:27.579
 Jesus says,

00:21:27.659 --> 00:21:28.240
 you're spiritually

00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:28.699
 poor.

00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:30.559
 In other words,

00:21:30.619 --> 00:21:31.199
 as a finite

00:21:31.199 --> 00:21:31.659
 creature,

00:21:31.819 --> 00:21:32.559
 everything that

00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:33.259
 you have

00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:34.799
 is on loan

00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:35.399
 from God.

00:21:36.859 --> 00:21:37.839
 You own

00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:38.220
 nothing.

00:21:38.379 --> 00:21:38.859
 You didn't

00:21:38.859 --> 00:21:39.839
 create yourself.

00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:41.000
 Even more than

00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:41.199
 that,

00:21:41.240 --> 00:21:41.959
 you are in debt

00:21:41.959 --> 00:21:42.740
 to God because

00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:43.399
 you have not

00:21:43.399 --> 00:21:44.019
 done what you

00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:44.639
 should have done

00:21:44.639 --> 00:21:45.279
 and you have

00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:45.899
 done things that

00:21:45.899 --> 00:21:46.319
 you shouldn't

00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:46.759
 have done.

00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:48.339
 And there's no

00:21:48.339 --> 00:21:48.939
 way that you

00:21:48.939 --> 00:21:49.759
 can pay God

00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:50.220
 back.

00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:52.939
 You are

00:21:52.939 --> 00:21:53.779
 spiritually poor.

00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:56.519
 you're spiritually

00:21:56.519 --> 00:21:57.079
 captive.

00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:59.279
 We are by

00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:00.579
 nature captives

00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:01.240
 to our sin

00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:02.159
 whether it's

00:22:02.159 --> 00:22:03.119
 manifest itself

00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:03.799
 as pride

00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:05.339
 or greed

00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:06.240
 or lust

00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:07.819
 or fear

00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:08.359
 of other

00:22:08.359 --> 00:22:08.799
 people.

00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:10.959
 Jesus says,

00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:11.480
 we cannot

00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:12.220
 simply free

00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:12.879
 ourselves

00:22:12.879 --> 00:22:15.019
 because we're

00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:15.919
 spiritually blind.

00:22:17.419 --> 00:22:17.659
 You know,

00:22:17.699 --> 00:22:18.159
 most of the

00:22:18.159 --> 00:22:18.679
 ways that we

00:22:18.679 --> 00:22:19.139
 hurt other

00:22:19.139 --> 00:22:19.439
 people,

00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:19.959
 we don't even

00:22:19.959 --> 00:22:20.599
 realize.

00:22:20.599 --> 00:22:20.659
 realize.

00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:22.859
 Maybe the

00:22:22.859 --> 00:22:23.399
 people around

00:22:23.399 --> 00:22:24.659
 us realize.

00:22:26.699 --> 00:22:27.619
 They can see

00:22:27.619 --> 00:22:28.240
 and feel

00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:29.559
 all the ways

00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:29.919
 that we hurt

00:22:29.919 --> 00:22:30.379
 one another.

00:22:31.579 --> 00:22:32.240
 But we're

00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:32.939
 often blind

00:22:32.939 --> 00:22:33.939
 to our

00:22:33.939 --> 00:22:34.279
 greatest

00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:34.819
 weaknesses.

00:22:37.339 --> 00:22:37.919
 And the

00:22:37.919 --> 00:22:38.359
 Bible also

00:22:38.359 --> 00:22:38.819
 says that we

00:22:38.819 --> 00:22:39.279
 don't even

00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:40.159
 recognize most

00:22:40.159 --> 00:22:40.639
 of the ways

00:22:40.639 --> 00:22:41.000
 that we

00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:41.439
 deeply

00:22:41.439 --> 00:22:41.980
 offend

00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:42.619
 God,

00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:43.099
 our

00:22:43.099 --> 00:22:43.480
 creator.

00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:46.620
 Jesus says

00:22:46.620 --> 00:22:46.779
 we're

00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:47.140
 spiritually

00:22:47.140 --> 00:22:47.640
 oppressed.

00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:49.860
 Not only

00:22:49.860 --> 00:22:50.180
 by our

00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:50.380
 own

00:22:50.380 --> 00:22:50.700
 patterns

00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:51.120
 of sin

00:22:51.120 --> 00:22:51.380
 but

00:22:51.380 --> 00:22:52.960
 vulnerable

00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:53.599
 to dark

00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:54.019
 spiritual

00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:54.480
 forces

00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:56.000
 that are

00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:56.360
 out to

00:22:56.360 --> 00:22:56.660
 steal

00:22:56.660 --> 00:22:57.120
 and kill

00:22:57.120 --> 00:22:57.700
 and destroy.

00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:00.339
 And ultimately

00:23:00.339 --> 00:23:01.079
 Jesus' message

00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:01.940
 is only good

00:23:01.940 --> 00:23:02.519
 news

00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:03.500
 for us

00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:03.799
 if we

00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:04.319
 identify

00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:04.920
 ourselves

00:23:04.920 --> 00:23:05.500
 spiritually

00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.279
 in these

00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:06.759
 ways.

00:23:06.839 --> 00:23:07.200
 If we

00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:07.660
 acknowledge

00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:09.279
 that we

00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:09.799
 are not

00:23:09.799 --> 00:23:10.539
 self-sufficient

00:23:10.539 --> 00:23:12.740
 and we

00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:13.159
 need

00:23:13.159 --> 00:23:13.720
 help

00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:13.960
 from

00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:14.420
 outside

00:23:14.420 --> 00:23:14.980
 ourselves.

00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:17.079
 But if we

00:23:17.079 --> 00:23:17.460
 acknowledge

00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:17.940
 that then

00:23:17.940 --> 00:23:18.359
 his word

00:23:18.359 --> 00:23:18.700
 is good

00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.019
 news

00:23:19.019 --> 00:23:19.299
 because

00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:19.480
 he's

00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:19.619
 come

00:23:19.619 --> 00:23:19.759
 to

00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:20.220
 comfort

00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:20.659
 the

00:23:20.659 --> 00:23:21.299
 afflicted

00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:22.980
 to

00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:23.339
 proclaim

00:23:23.339 --> 00:23:23.619
 good

00:23:23.619 --> 00:23:23.960
 news

00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:24.299
 for the

00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:24.700
 poor

00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:26.259
 and

00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:26.619
 freedom

00:23:26.619 --> 00:23:27.000
 for the

00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:27.720
 captives

00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:30.379
 and light.

00:23:31.059 --> 00:23:31.839
 He shows

00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:32.119
 us who

00:23:32.119 --> 00:23:32.500
 we really

00:23:32.500 --> 00:23:32.700
 are.

00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:32.920
 He gives

00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:33.519
 us insight

00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.039
 and wisdom

00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:35.339
 into who

00:23:35.339 --> 00:23:35.940
 we are

00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:37.000
 and into

00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:37.379
 the world

00:23:37.379 --> 00:23:37.720
 that he's

00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:37.980
 made

00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:38.319
 and into

00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:38.759
 who God

00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:39.279
 is most

00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:39.799
 of all.

00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:40.920
 And he

00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:41.220
 gives us

00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:41.720
 release.

00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:43.740
 That word

00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:44.240
 release is

00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:44.559
 the same

00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:45.039
 word that

00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:46.279
 is sometimes

00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:46.799
 translated

00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:47.299
 forgiveness.

00:23:49.180 --> 00:23:49.700
 Release

00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:50.059
 from the

00:23:50.059 --> 00:23:50.259
 burden

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:50.639
 of our

00:23:50.639 --> 00:23:50.879
 sin.

00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:52.259
 Forgiveness

00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:52.859
 for our

00:23:52.859 --> 00:23:53.200
 guilt

00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:54.579
 and favor

00:23:54.579 --> 00:23:55.220
 from God.

00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:56.720
 Jesus

00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:57.079
 has come

00:23:57.079 --> 00:23:57.440
 to comfort

00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:58.119
 the afflicted

00:23:58.119 --> 00:23:59.799
 from the

00:23:59.799 --> 00:24:00.139
 scriptures

00:24:00.139 --> 00:24:01.420
 as God's

00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:01.700
 servant

00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:02.440
 both physically

00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:03.039
 and spiritually.

00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:03.899
 That's the

00:24:03.899 --> 00:24:04.859
 first thing

00:24:04.859 --> 00:24:05.259
 we see

00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:05.619
 in this

00:24:05.619 --> 00:24:05.980
 passage.

00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:06.299
 But we

00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:07.019
 also see

00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:09.099
 a second

00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:09.559
 thing

00:24:09.559 --> 00:24:10.919
 in verses

00:24:10.919 --> 00:24:11.539
 22 to

00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:11.879
 30

00:24:11.879 --> 00:24:13.179
 that Jesus

00:24:13.179 --> 00:24:13.559
 has come

00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:14.339
 to challenge

00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:15.740
 the comfortable.

00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:17.839
 Notice

00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:18.519
 the crowd's

00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:19.460
 initial reaction

00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:20.279
 to Jesus.

00:24:21.399 --> 00:24:21.879
 Verse

00:24:21.879 --> 00:24:22.480
 14.

00:24:23.399 --> 00:24:23.919
 A report

00:24:23.919 --> 00:24:24.339
 about him

00:24:24.339 --> 00:24:24.740
 went out

00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:25.159
 through all

00:24:25.159 --> 00:24:25.700
 the surrounding

00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:26.139
 country.

00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:26.779
 His fame

00:24:26.779 --> 00:24:27.339
 is growing.

00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:27.940
 Verse

00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.440
 15.

00:24:28.539 --> 00:24:28.960
 He's being

00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:29.679
 glorified

00:24:29.679 --> 00:24:30.579
 by all.

00:24:31.379 --> 00:24:31.679
 Verse

00:24:31.679 --> 00:24:32.099
 17.

00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:32.519
 He's given

00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:33.079
 the honor

00:24:33.079 --> 00:24:33.919
 of reading

00:24:33.919 --> 00:24:34.480
 the scriptures

00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:35.079
 publicly

00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:35.819
 in the

00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:36.159
 synagogue

00:24:36.159 --> 00:24:36.960
 and given

00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:37.659
 the invitation

00:24:37.659 --> 00:24:38.619
 to expound

00:24:38.619 --> 00:24:39.259
 upon them

00:24:39.259 --> 00:24:40.039
 publicly.

00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:40.939
 Verse

00:24:40.939 --> 00:24:41.399
 19.

00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:41.939
 The eyes

00:24:41.939 --> 00:24:42.419
 of all

00:24:42.419 --> 00:24:43.019
 are fixed

00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:43.779
 on him

00:24:43.779 --> 00:24:44.619
 in a sense

00:24:44.619 --> 00:24:45.439
 of expectant

00:24:45.439 --> 00:24:46.139
 trust.

00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:47.220
 Verse

00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:47.659
 22.

00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:47.960
 All

00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:48.259
 spoke

00:24:48.259 --> 00:24:48.519
 well

00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:48.859
 of him

00:24:48.859 --> 00:24:49.759
 and marveled

00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:51.179
 at the words

00:24:51.179 --> 00:24:51.679
 coming from

00:24:51.679 --> 00:24:52.139
 his mouth.

00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:52.539
 But then

00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:53.000
 notice how

00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:53.500
 the crowd's

00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:53.859
 reaction

00:24:53.859 --> 00:24:54.460
 flips.

00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:56.359
 And it

00:24:56.359 --> 00:24:56.839
 starts in

00:24:56.839 --> 00:24:57.439
 verse 22

00:24:57.439 --> 00:24:57.859
 when they

00:24:57.859 --> 00:24:58.259
 say,

00:24:59.579 --> 00:25:00.199
 isn't this

00:25:00.199 --> 00:25:00.919
 Joseph's

00:25:00.919 --> 00:25:01.259
 son?

00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:04.299
 Now what

00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:04.559
 does that

00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:04.839
 statement

00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:05.140
 mean?

00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:07.700
 It seems

00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:08.619
 like there's

00:25:08.619 --> 00:25:08.980
 at least

00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:09.500
 some

00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:10.420
 criticism

00:25:10.420 --> 00:25:11.559
 or skepticism

00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:12.460
 expressed

00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:13.059
 in that

00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:13.379
 statement.

00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:13.940
 Perhaps

00:25:13.940 --> 00:25:14.339
 even

00:25:14.339 --> 00:25:14.879
 mockery

00:25:14.879 --> 00:25:15.539
 or scorn.

00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:16.079
 What

00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:16.720
 is this

00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:17.500
 carpenter's

00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:17.819
 son?

00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:20.619
 This

00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:21.460
 small town

00:25:21.460 --> 00:25:22.099
 boy that

00:25:22.099 --> 00:25:22.559
 we've all

00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:23.039
 grown up

00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:23.420
 with.

00:25:23.859 --> 00:25:24.400
 What is

00:25:24.400 --> 00:25:24.960
 he doing

00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:25.480
 saying that

00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:26.019
 the scriptures

00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:26.819
 are fulfilled

00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:27.460
 in him?

00:25:29.059 --> 00:25:29.920
 That he

00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:30.279
 is the

00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:30.619
 promised

00:25:30.619 --> 00:25:30.960
 servant

00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:31.319
 of the

00:25:31.319 --> 00:25:31.720
 Lord.

00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:34.299
 That seems

00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:35.240
 rather arrogant

00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:37.600
 and self

00:25:37.600 --> 00:25:38.079
 important.

00:25:39.140 --> 00:25:39.819
 How can

00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:40.120
 he be

00:25:40.120 --> 00:25:40.640
 saying that

00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:41.319
 about himself?

00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:41.740
 Isn't

00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:42.220
 he just

00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:42.900
 Joseph's

00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:43.259
 son?

00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:46.360
 And then

00:25:46.360 --> 00:25:46.620
 in verse

00:25:46.620 --> 00:25:47.299
 28 and

00:25:47.299 --> 00:25:47.819
 29 it

00:25:47.819 --> 00:25:48.319
 gets worse.

00:25:50.100 --> 00:25:50.600
 They're

00:25:50.600 --> 00:25:50.940
 filled with

00:25:50.940 --> 00:25:51.259
 wrath.

00:25:51.360 --> 00:25:51.700
 They drive

00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:51.920
 him out

00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:52.279
 of town

00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:52.539
 and they

00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:52.799
 try to

00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:53.059
 throw him

00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:53.299
 off a

00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:53.600
 cliff.

00:25:55.180 --> 00:25:55.680
 They

00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:56.120
 start out

00:25:56.120 --> 00:25:56.539
 praising

00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:56.960
 him,

00:25:57.400 --> 00:25:57.880
 marveling

00:25:57.880 --> 00:25:58.340
 at him,

00:25:58.620 --> 00:25:59.019
 adoring

00:25:59.019 --> 00:25:59.279
 him.

00:25:59.340 --> 00:25:59.539
 They end

00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:00.140
 up furious

00:26:00.140 --> 00:26:00.660
 at him.

00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:01.559
 Wanting

00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:01.799
 to get

00:26:01.799 --> 00:26:02.000
 rid

00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:02.420
 of him.

00:26:04.600 --> 00:26:05.380
 What did

00:26:05.380 --> 00:26:05.860
 Jesus say

00:26:05.860 --> 00:26:07.519
 here that

00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:08.100
 was so

00:26:08.100 --> 00:26:08.920
 challenging,

00:26:09.059 --> 00:26:09.519
 that was so

00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:10.480
 provocative to

00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:10.759
 them?

00:26:12.079 --> 00:26:12.400
 We'll look

00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:12.660
 down at

00:26:12.660 --> 00:26:13.240
 verse 23

00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:13.900
 to 27.

00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.519
 Verse 23

00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:17.160
 and 24,

00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:18.640
 Jesus refers

00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:19.200
 to two

00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:20.500
 well-known

00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.160
 proverbs.

00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:22.799
 Physician,

00:26:22.940 --> 00:26:23.640
 heal yourself

00:26:23.640 --> 00:26:25.200
 and then

00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:25.900
 no prophet

00:26:25.900 --> 00:26:26.519
 is acceptable

00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:26.880
 in his

00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:27.200
 hometown.

00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:27.740
 both

00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:29.299
 were well-known

00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:29.819
 statements

00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:30.220
 that

00:26:30.220 --> 00:26:30.940
 acknowledged

00:26:30.940 --> 00:26:31.480
 people's

00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:31.819
 tendency

00:26:31.819 --> 00:26:32.660
 to reject

00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:33.360
 prophets

00:26:33.360 --> 00:26:33.940
 and

00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:34.400
 teachers,

00:26:34.860 --> 00:26:35.400
 especially

00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:35.960
 those who

00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:36.500
 are closest

00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:37.259
 to them.

00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:40.120
 And it's

00:26:40.120 --> 00:26:40.600
 sort of like

00:26:40.600 --> 00:26:41.059
 Jesus is

00:26:41.059 --> 00:26:41.500
 looking at

00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:41.819
 them and

00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:42.180
 saying,

00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:44.400
 yeah,

00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.259
 I know

00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:45.580
 how this

00:26:45.580 --> 00:26:45.819
 is going

00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:46.279
 to end

00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:47.940
 and it's

00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:48.240
 not going

00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:48.420
 to be

00:26:48.420 --> 00:26:48.740
 pretty

00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:51.240
 because I

00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:51.580
 won't be

00:26:51.580 --> 00:26:51.900
 able to

00:26:51.900 --> 00:26:52.500
 please you

00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:54.039
 because

00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:54.519
 ultimately

00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:55.779
 I haven't

00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:56.279
 come to

00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:56.839
 please you.

00:26:58.200 --> 00:26:58.980
 My purpose

00:26:58.980 --> 00:26:59.440
 is to do

00:26:59.440 --> 00:26:59.799
 the will

00:26:59.799 --> 00:27:00.160
 of my

00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:00.680
 father in

00:27:00.680 --> 00:27:00.920
 heaven.

00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:02.960
 And I

00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:03.339
 see

00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:05.279
 that you're

00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:05.680
 not going

00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:06.160
 to understand

00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:06.480
 that.

00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:09.559
 Now this

00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:09.819
 is where

00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:10.220
 Jesus had

00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:10.519
 been brought

00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:10.660
 up.

00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:10.980
 This is

00:27:10.980 --> 00:27:11.559
 Nazareth.

00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:11.980
 This was

00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:12.440
 his hometown.

00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.480
 He knew

00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:15.079
 these people

00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:15.819
 pretty well.

00:27:17.819 --> 00:27:18.420
 And so

00:27:18.420 --> 00:27:18.819
 he didn't

00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:19.339
 get caught

00:27:19.339 --> 00:27:19.720
 up in

00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:20.339
 their initial

00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:21.019
 expressions

00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:22.940
 of enthusiasm

00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:25.000
 and admiration.

00:27:26.140 --> 00:27:27.240
 He perceived

00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:27.820
 that underneath

00:27:27.820 --> 00:27:28.279
 they were

00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:28.960
 deeply at

00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:30.200
 odds with

00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:30.680
 his mission

00:27:30.680 --> 00:27:31.160
 and his

00:27:31.160 --> 00:27:31.680
 message.

00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:32.420
 And so

00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:32.880
 he spoke

00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:33.100
 some

00:27:33.100 --> 00:27:33.559
 challenging

00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:35.700
 words that

00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:36.880
 exposed their

00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:37.360
 underlying

00:27:37.360 --> 00:27:38.000
 attitudes.

00:27:39.340 --> 00:27:39.759
 Now verse

00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:40.299
 25 to

00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:40.820
 27,

00:27:41.580 --> 00:27:42.120
 Jesus gets

00:27:42.120 --> 00:27:42.559
 even more

00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:43.019
 specific.

00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:45.120
 He doesn't

00:27:45.120 --> 00:27:45.880
 just point

00:27:45.880 --> 00:27:46.200
 to this

00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:46.519
 general

00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:47.180
 pattern that

00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:47.720
 people often

00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:48.180
 reject,

00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:49.160
 prophets and

00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:49.480
 teachers,

00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:50.180
 especially those

00:27:50.180 --> 00:27:50.720
 closest to

00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:51.019
 them.

00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:52.859
 But he

00:27:52.859 --> 00:27:53.339
 says this,

00:27:53.400 --> 00:27:53.680
 he says,

00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:53.920
 there were

00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:54.400
 many widows

00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:54.859
 in Israel

00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:55.279
 in the days

00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:55.779
 of Elijah

00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:58.220
 during a

00:27:58.220 --> 00:27:58.759
 great famine,

00:27:58.859 --> 00:27:59.220
 a time of

00:27:59.220 --> 00:27:59.819
 divine judgment,

00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:00.359
 and Elijah

00:28:00.359 --> 00:28:00.980
 was sent to

00:28:00.980 --> 00:28:01.319
 none of

00:28:01.319 --> 00:28:01.559
 them,

00:28:01.859 --> 00:28:02.500
 but only

00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:03.819
 to a

00:28:03.819 --> 00:28:04.599
 woman who

00:28:04.599 --> 00:28:04.819
 was a

00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:05.259
 widow in

00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:05.740
 Zarephath

00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:05.940
 in the

00:28:05.940 --> 00:28:06.240
 land of

00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:06.579
 Sidon.

00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.480
 And there

00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:08.779
 were many

00:28:08.779 --> 00:28:09.200
 lepers in

00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:09.639
 Israel in

00:28:09.639 --> 00:28:09.960
 the time of

00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:10.279
 the prophet

00:28:10.279 --> 00:28:10.839
 Elisha,

00:28:10.940 --> 00:28:11.460
 and none

00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:11.680
 of them

00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:12.379
 was cleansed,

00:28:12.460 --> 00:28:12.980
 but only

00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:13.420
 Naaman the

00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:13.700
 Syrian.

00:28:13.819 --> 00:28:14.019
 And you

00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:14.539
 might say,

00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:16.420
 what exactly

00:28:16.420 --> 00:28:16.759
 is the

00:28:16.759 --> 00:28:17.119
 point that

00:28:17.119 --> 00:28:17.500
 Jesus is

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:18.039
 making here?

00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:19.200
 Well,

00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:19.599
 Jesus is

00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:20.119
 speaking about

00:28:20.119 --> 00:28:20.739
 two of the

00:28:20.739 --> 00:28:21.079
 greatest

00:28:21.079 --> 00:28:22.159
 prophets in

00:28:22.159 --> 00:28:22.479
 the Old

00:28:22.479 --> 00:28:22.879
 Testament,

00:28:23.099 --> 00:28:24.279
 Elijah and

00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:24.819
 Elisha.

00:28:25.439 --> 00:28:26.219
 And he's

00:28:26.219 --> 00:28:26.739
 pointing out a

00:28:26.739 --> 00:28:28.599
 pattern that

00:28:28.599 --> 00:28:29.019
 happened in

00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:29.559
 both of their

00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:30.139
 ministries.

00:28:30.939 --> 00:28:31.619
 In both

00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:32.339
 cases,

00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:34.419
 native Israelites

00:28:34.419 --> 00:28:35.819
 were passed

00:28:35.819 --> 00:28:37.099
 over in

00:28:37.099 --> 00:28:38.099
 favor of

00:28:38.099 --> 00:28:38.979
 foreign

00:28:38.979 --> 00:28:39.799
 outsiders.

00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:39.940
 outsiders.

00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:42.099
 And even

00:28:42.099 --> 00:28:42.599
 more than

00:28:42.599 --> 00:28:42.839
 that,

00:28:42.899 --> 00:28:43.139
 they were

00:28:43.139 --> 00:28:44.000
 passed over

00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:44.579
 in favor

00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:45.240
 of foreign

00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:46.079
 outsiders who

00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:46.899
 were historically

00:28:46.899 --> 00:28:48.980
 hostile to the

00:28:48.980 --> 00:28:49.399
 nation of

00:28:49.399 --> 00:28:49.819
 Israel.

00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:52.039
 The land of

00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:53.200
 Sidon had

00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:54.539
 often been at

00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:55.099
 war with

00:28:55.099 --> 00:28:55.500
 Israel.

00:28:55.659 --> 00:28:55.980
 Naaman,

00:28:56.139 --> 00:28:56.579
 the Syrian,

00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:57.419
 was a military

00:28:57.419 --> 00:28:57.919
 commander.

00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:58.279
 He had

00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:58.960
 attacked

00:28:58.960 --> 00:28:59.440
 Israel.

00:29:01.980 --> 00:29:02.680
 And Jesus

00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:03.339
 says this was

00:29:03.339 --> 00:29:03.740
 not an

00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:04.079
 accident.

00:29:04.919 --> 00:29:05.700
 It was part

00:29:05.700 --> 00:29:06.099
 of God's

00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:06.419
 plan.

00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:06.659
 Do you

00:29:06.659 --> 00:29:07.099
 notice verse

00:29:07.099 --> 00:29:07.680
 26?

00:29:08.059 --> 00:29:08.440
 It says,

00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:09.460
 Elijah was

00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:09.880
 sent.

00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:12.420
 It's what

00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:12.960
 is sometimes

00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:13.539
 called a

00:29:13.539 --> 00:29:14.080
 divine

00:29:14.080 --> 00:29:14.720
 passive.

00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:15.640
 In other

00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:15.900
 words,

00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:16.259
 it's a

00:29:16.259 --> 00:29:16.720
 passive

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:17.460
 verb,

00:29:18.740 --> 00:29:19.360
 he was

00:29:19.360 --> 00:29:19.720
 sent,

00:29:20.220 --> 00:29:21.240
 that points

00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:22.519
 to divine

00:29:22.519 --> 00:29:23.140
 action.

00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:24.160
 Who sent

00:29:24.160 --> 00:29:24.400
 him?

00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:25.539
 God sent

00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:25.740
 him.

00:29:26.779 --> 00:29:27.539
 Elijah was

00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:28.259
 sent by

00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:28.539
 God.

00:29:28.620 --> 00:29:29.279
 Verse 27,

00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:30.460
 none of

00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:30.799
 them was

00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:31.600
 cleansed by

00:29:31.600 --> 00:29:32.000
 God,

00:29:32.100 --> 00:29:33.360
 only Naaman.

00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.620
 Now,

00:29:35.660 --> 00:29:35.960
 why would

00:29:35.960 --> 00:29:36.480
 this so

00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:37.380
 infuriate

00:29:37.380 --> 00:29:38.480
 the people

00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:39.160
 of Nazareth?

00:29:40.620 --> 00:29:41.200
 Well,

00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:42.240
 Jesus was

00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:43.620
 living in

00:29:43.620 --> 00:29:44.140
 a historical

00:29:44.140 --> 00:29:45.040
 time period

00:29:45.040 --> 00:29:46.060
 when many

00:29:46.060 --> 00:29:46.680
 people in

00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:47.800
 Israel were

00:29:47.800 --> 00:29:48.380
 fervently

00:29:48.380 --> 00:29:49.080
 hoping for

00:29:49.080 --> 00:29:49.820
 a restoration

00:29:49.820 --> 00:29:50.680
 of their

00:29:50.680 --> 00:29:52.160
 nation under

00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:52.900
 God.

00:29:53.840 --> 00:29:54.640
 Many people

00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:55.420
 were fed up

00:29:55.420 --> 00:29:55.800
 with the

00:29:55.800 --> 00:29:56.400
 powerful

00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:57.240
 pagan

00:29:57.240 --> 00:29:58.080
 Roman

00:29:58.080 --> 00:29:58.900
 elites,

00:30:00.020 --> 00:30:00.640
 the cultural

00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:01.840
 progressives

00:30:01.840 --> 00:30:02.420
 of the

00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:02.780
 day,

00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:03.920
 who were

00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:04.400
 gradually,

00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:05.100
 sometimes

00:30:05.100 --> 00:30:05.740
 violently

00:30:05.740 --> 00:30:06.319
 imposing

00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:07.019
 their will

00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:08.120
 on the

00:30:08.120 --> 00:30:08.359
 native

00:30:08.359 --> 00:30:08.960
 Israelites

00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:09.819
 and

00:30:09.819 --> 00:30:10.319
 offending

00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:10.839
 against

00:30:10.839 --> 00:30:11.079
 their

00:30:11.079 --> 00:30:11.420
 religious

00:30:11.420 --> 00:30:11.759
 and

00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:12.140
 cultural

00:30:12.140 --> 00:30:12.680
 traditions.

00:30:13.880 --> 00:30:14.099
 And so

00:30:14.099 --> 00:30:14.500
 various

00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:15.000
 popular

00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:15.420
 movements

00:30:15.420 --> 00:30:16.039
 had sprung

00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:16.420
 up

00:30:16.420 --> 00:30:18.339
 in response.

00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:19.299
 Some

00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:19.960
 were violent,

00:30:20.740 --> 00:30:21.279
 the zealots.

00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:22.400
 Some

00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:23.359
 were separatist,

00:30:23.660 --> 00:30:24.319
 the Essenes,

00:30:24.359 --> 00:30:25.200
 who lived

00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:25.759
 on top of a

00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.039
 cliff.

00:30:26.980 --> 00:30:27.359
 Some

00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:27.779
 were focused

00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:28.480
 on maintaining

00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:29.059
 cultural

00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:30.140
 boundaries against

00:30:30.140 --> 00:30:31.180
 foreign influence,

00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:32.059
 the Pharisees.

00:30:32.059 --> 00:30:33.440
 they were

00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:34.240
 all along

00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:34.859
 the lines

00:30:34.859 --> 00:30:35.359
 of,

00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:37.139
 make Israel

00:30:37.139 --> 00:30:38.379
 great again.

00:30:39.879 --> 00:30:40.599
 And many

00:30:40.599 --> 00:30:41.099
 in Jesus'

00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:41.779
 hometown

00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:42.799
 would have

00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:43.460
 been sympathetic

00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:44.799
 to such

00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:45.599
 movements.

00:30:46.519 --> 00:30:47.079
 And Jesus

00:30:47.079 --> 00:30:47.559
 had the

00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:48.159
 nerve

00:30:48.159 --> 00:30:49.059
 in that

00:30:49.059 --> 00:30:49.639
 context

00:30:49.639 --> 00:30:50.319
 to remind

00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:50.720
 them

00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:52.019
 that two

00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:52.359
 of the

00:30:52.359 --> 00:30:52.759
 greatest

00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.220
 prophets

00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:54.079
 of Israel,

00:30:54.700 --> 00:30:55.159
 whom they

00:30:55.159 --> 00:30:56.179
 all recognized,

00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:57.159
 had been

00:30:57.159 --> 00:30:58.019
 sent by God

00:30:58.019 --> 00:30:58.639
 to bless

00:30:58.639 --> 00:31:00.059
 not only

00:31:00.059 --> 00:31:00.539
 Israelites,

00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:01.319
 but also

00:31:01.319 --> 00:31:01.839
 foreign

00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:02.500
 outsiders,

00:31:03.579 --> 00:31:04.460
 even those

00:31:04.460 --> 00:31:04.720
 who were

00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:05.220
 natural

00:31:05.220 --> 00:31:05.680
 enemies

00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:06.240
 of God's

00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:06.599
 people.

00:31:08.099 --> 00:31:08.460
 And of

00:31:08.460 --> 00:31:08.639
 course,

00:31:08.720 --> 00:31:09.159
 the implication

00:31:09.159 --> 00:31:09.920
 is that

00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:10.240
 Jesus'

00:31:10.440 --> 00:31:10.879
 ministry

00:31:10.879 --> 00:31:12.299
 would not

00:31:12.299 --> 00:31:12.680
 just be

00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:12.960
 about

00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:13.559
 restoring

00:31:13.559 --> 00:31:14.059
 Israel

00:31:14.059 --> 00:31:14.319
 to

00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:14.859
 greatness,

00:31:15.420 --> 00:31:16.399
 but fulfilling

00:31:16.399 --> 00:31:16.899
 God's

00:31:16.899 --> 00:31:17.420
 promise to

00:31:17.420 --> 00:31:18.000
 Abraham,

00:31:19.119 --> 00:31:19.819
 in you

00:31:19.819 --> 00:31:20.460
 all the

00:31:20.460 --> 00:31:21.000
 nations of

00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:21.480
 the earth

00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:22.539
 will be

00:31:22.539 --> 00:31:22.920
 blessed.

00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:24.940
 You see,

00:31:25.019 --> 00:31:25.639
 Jesus didn't

00:31:25.639 --> 00:31:26.519
 completely buy

00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:27.000
 into the

00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:27.639
 agenda of

00:31:27.639 --> 00:31:28.279
 any of

00:31:28.279 --> 00:31:28.799
 the political

00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:29.559
 parties of

00:31:29.559 --> 00:31:30.059
 his day.

00:31:30.539 --> 00:31:31.920
 And sometimes

00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:32.940
 that made

00:31:32.940 --> 00:31:33.619
 some people

00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:34.799
 really mad.

00:31:36.139 --> 00:31:36.720
 Jesus didn't

00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:37.420
 side with

00:31:37.420 --> 00:31:37.839
 the pagan

00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:38.720
 Roman elites

00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:40.559
 who promised

00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:41.000
 peace and

00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:41.740
 security under

00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:42.299
 their rule.

00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:43.119
 Jesus warned,

00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:43.839
 don't believe

00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:44.519
 their promises.

00:31:45.619 --> 00:31:46.139
 They always

00:31:46.139 --> 00:31:46.559
 come at a

00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:47.339
 high cost

00:31:47.339 --> 00:31:48.119
 and they

00:31:48.119 --> 00:31:48.839
 won't last.

00:31:49.159 --> 00:31:49.940
 It's in me

00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:50.819
 that you'll

00:31:50.819 --> 00:31:51.359
 find true

00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:51.980
 liberation

00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:53.139
 and genuine

00:31:53.139 --> 00:31:53.899
 peace and

00:31:53.899 --> 00:31:54.700
 lasting hope.

00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:55.180
 It's my

00:31:55.180 --> 00:31:55.720
 kingdom that

00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:56.119
 will last

00:31:56.119 --> 00:31:56.460
 forever,

00:31:56.579 --> 00:31:57.220
 not theirs.

00:31:57.220 --> 00:31:57.960
 And yet

00:31:57.960 --> 00:31:58.539
 he didn't

00:31:58.539 --> 00:32:00.180
 scorn the

00:32:00.180 --> 00:32:00.579
 pagan

00:32:00.579 --> 00:32:01.759
 progressive

00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:02.620
 elites.

00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:04.140
 He healed

00:32:04.140 --> 00:32:04.640
 the son

00:32:04.640 --> 00:32:05.360
 of a

00:32:05.360 --> 00:32:05.579
 Roman

00:32:05.579 --> 00:32:06.220
 centurion.

00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:07.860
 He called

00:32:07.860 --> 00:32:08.700
 tax collectors

00:32:08.700 --> 00:32:10.000
 who were

00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:10.460
 back then

00:32:10.460 --> 00:32:10.880
 corrupt

00:32:10.880 --> 00:32:11.339
 government

00:32:11.339 --> 00:32:11.980
 employees

00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:13.299
 to be

00:32:13.299 --> 00:32:13.480
 his

00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:13.940
 disciples.

00:32:15.019 --> 00:32:15.740
 But neither

00:32:15.740 --> 00:32:16.240
 did Jesus

00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:16.900
 jump on

00:32:16.900 --> 00:32:17.460
 the popular

00:32:17.460 --> 00:32:18.360
 bandwagons

00:32:18.360 --> 00:32:19.140
 which promised

00:32:19.140 --> 00:32:19.700
 to restore

00:32:19.700 --> 00:32:20.120
 the kingdom

00:32:20.120 --> 00:32:20.680
 to Israel.

00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:21.160
 As we see

00:32:21.160 --> 00:32:21.539
 right here,

00:32:21.600 --> 00:32:22.380
 he challenged

00:32:22.380 --> 00:32:24.079
 their excessively

00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:24.839
 nationalistic

00:32:24.839 --> 00:32:25.379
 focus.

00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:27.119
 He said

00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:27.720
 God's plans

00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:28.199
 are bigger

00:32:28.199 --> 00:32:29.740
 and sometimes

00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:30.419
 different than

00:32:30.419 --> 00:32:30.859
 yours.

00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:32.240
 But he didn't

00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:32.699
 write them

00:32:32.699 --> 00:32:33.259
 off either.

00:32:33.859 --> 00:32:34.500
 He came to

00:32:34.500 --> 00:32:35.099
 Nazareth

00:32:35.099 --> 00:32:36.119
 even though the

00:32:36.119 --> 00:32:36.740
 majority of

00:32:36.740 --> 00:32:37.179
 people there

00:32:37.179 --> 00:32:37.720
 would reject

00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:38.039
 him.

00:32:40.059 --> 00:32:40.899
 He spent

00:32:40.899 --> 00:32:41.379
 time with

00:32:41.379 --> 00:32:42.099
 Pharisees.

00:32:43.399 --> 00:32:43.839
 And Jesus

00:32:43.839 --> 00:32:44.279
 called his

00:32:44.279 --> 00:32:44.879
 disciples from

00:32:44.879 --> 00:32:45.179
 the whole

00:32:45.179 --> 00:32:47.079
 range of

00:32:47.079 --> 00:32:47.859
 political parties

00:32:47.859 --> 00:32:48.299
 all the way

00:32:48.299 --> 00:32:48.859
 from Simon

00:32:48.859 --> 00:32:49.500
 the Zealot.

00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:50.740
 The Zealots

00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:51.419
 were the

00:32:51.419 --> 00:32:51.740
 violent

00:32:51.740 --> 00:32:52.659
 revolution group

00:32:52.659 --> 00:32:53.579
 drive out

00:32:53.579 --> 00:32:54.099
 the Romans

00:32:54.099 --> 00:32:54.939
 to Matthew

00:32:54.939 --> 00:32:55.379
 the tax

00:32:55.379 --> 00:32:55.719
 collector,

00:32:55.819 --> 00:32:56.119
 the Roman

00:32:56.119 --> 00:32:56.519
 government

00:32:56.519 --> 00:32:57.039
 employee.

00:32:58.299 --> 00:32:58.639
 I mean,

00:32:58.679 --> 00:32:59.299
 just imagine

00:32:59.299 --> 00:32:59.899
 the political

00:32:59.899 --> 00:33:00.619
 conversations

00:33:00.619 --> 00:33:01.259
 among Jesus'

00:33:01.379 --> 00:33:01.579
 twelve

00:33:01.579 --> 00:33:02.000
 disciples.

00:33:04.439 --> 00:33:05.179
 So here's

00:33:05.179 --> 00:33:05.539
 the point.

00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:07.319
 If within

00:33:07.319 --> 00:33:07.759
 the church

00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:08.159
 we're not

00:33:08.159 --> 00:33:08.759
 all on the

00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:09.480
 same page

00:33:09.480 --> 00:33:10.899
 about politics

00:33:10.899 --> 00:33:11.339
 but we're

00:33:11.339 --> 00:33:12.379
 united in

00:33:12.379 --> 00:33:13.019
 our allegiance

00:33:13.019 --> 00:33:13.579
 to Jesus

00:33:13.579 --> 00:33:14.079
 Christ,

00:33:14.899 --> 00:33:15.619
 I think

00:33:15.619 --> 00:33:16.099
 that's actually

00:33:16.099 --> 00:33:16.379
 a good

00:33:16.379 --> 00:33:16.740
 sign.

00:33:17.659 --> 00:33:18.359
 Because our

00:33:18.359 --> 00:33:18.959
 calling as

00:33:18.959 --> 00:33:19.199
 Jesus'

00:33:19.359 --> 00:33:19.919
 disciples is

00:33:19.919 --> 00:33:20.619
 first and

00:33:20.619 --> 00:33:21.179
 foremost

00:33:21.179 --> 00:33:22.099
 to the

00:33:22.099 --> 00:33:22.719
 lordship of

00:33:22.719 --> 00:33:23.159
 Christ.

00:33:23.160 --> 00:33:24.940
 And secondly

00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:25.680
 to carefully

00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:26.400
 work out

00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:27.240
 the implications

00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:27.940
 of that

00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:28.500
 lordship

00:33:28.500 --> 00:33:29.860
 over all

00:33:29.860 --> 00:33:30.620
 things together

00:33:30.620 --> 00:33:32.120
 in politics

00:33:32.120 --> 00:33:32.740
 and everywhere

00:33:32.740 --> 00:33:33.200
 else.

00:33:34.800 --> 00:33:35.240
 Jesus was

00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:35.680
 willing to

00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:36.259
 challenge

00:33:36.259 --> 00:33:37.259
 the comfortable

00:33:37.259 --> 00:33:38.040
 in his

00:33:38.040 --> 00:33:38.620
 hometown of

00:33:38.620 --> 00:33:39.140
 Nazareth.

00:33:39.700 --> 00:33:40.360
 And through

00:33:40.360 --> 00:33:40.800
 his word

00:33:40.800 --> 00:33:41.080
 and his

00:33:41.080 --> 00:33:41.440
 spirit he

00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:42.140
 continues to

00:33:42.140 --> 00:33:42.700
 challenge us

00:33:42.700 --> 00:33:43.040
 today.

00:33:43.380 --> 00:33:43.779
 So let me

00:33:43.779 --> 00:33:44.360
 conclude this

00:33:44.360 --> 00:33:44.800
 section with

00:33:44.800 --> 00:33:45.480
 three challenges

00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:46.080
 to us.

00:33:47.320 --> 00:33:48.100
 Number one,

00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:49.800
 a warning.

00:33:49.799 --> 00:33:49.859
 thing.

00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:52.019
 And this is

00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:52.399
 in the words

00:33:52.399 --> 00:33:52.799
 of James

00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:53.240
 Edwards,

00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:54.659
 commentator

00:33:54.659 --> 00:33:54.960
 on this

00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:55.279
 passage.

00:33:55.419 --> 00:33:55.700
 He said,

00:33:55.819 --> 00:33:56.220
 the greatest

00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:56.919
 danger to

00:33:56.919 --> 00:33:57.240
 the way

00:33:57.240 --> 00:33:57.779
 of God

00:33:57.779 --> 00:33:58.539
 in this

00:33:58.539 --> 00:33:59.980
 world is

00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:00.579
 posed by

00:34:00.579 --> 00:34:01.019
 those who

00:34:01.019 --> 00:34:01.539
 are closest

00:34:01.539 --> 00:34:02.119
 to it.

00:34:03.819 --> 00:34:04.259
 You see,

00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:05.019
 what should

00:34:05.019 --> 00:34:07.639
 surprise and

00:34:07.639 --> 00:34:08.639
 disturb us

00:34:08.639 --> 00:34:09.480
 in this

00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:11.059
 passage is

00:34:11.059 --> 00:34:11.559
 not just

00:34:11.559 --> 00:34:11.940
 that some

00:34:11.940 --> 00:34:12.619
 people reject

00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:13.099
 Jesus.

00:34:13.099 --> 00:34:14.920
 there's

00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:15.400
 always some

00:34:15.400 --> 00:34:15.779
 people who

00:34:15.779 --> 00:34:16.579
 reject Jesus.

00:34:18.059 --> 00:34:18.860
 But look at

00:34:18.860 --> 00:34:19.519
 who it is

00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:20.420
 that rejects

00:34:20.420 --> 00:34:20.819
 him here.

00:34:21.699 --> 00:34:22.380
 It's the

00:34:22.380 --> 00:34:22.860
 people who

00:34:22.860 --> 00:34:23.199
 would have

00:34:23.199 --> 00:34:23.659
 known him

00:34:23.659 --> 00:34:24.119
 best.

00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:26.019
 It's the

00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:26.460
 people who

00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:26.839
 grew up

00:34:26.839 --> 00:34:27.539
 around him.

00:34:28.659 --> 00:34:29.480
 The people

00:34:29.480 --> 00:34:29.860
 in his

00:34:29.860 --> 00:34:30.279
 hometown.

00:34:31.880 --> 00:34:32.659
 The people

00:34:32.659 --> 00:34:33.079
 who had been

00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:33.880
 around him

00:34:33.880 --> 00:34:34.440
 longer than

00:34:34.440 --> 00:34:35.219
 anyone else.

00:34:37.099 --> 00:34:37.880
 And later

00:34:37.880 --> 00:34:38.319
 on, who

00:34:38.319 --> 00:34:38.799
 would betray

00:34:38.799 --> 00:34:39.339
 Jesus?

00:34:41.019 --> 00:34:41.639
 Not a

00:34:41.639 --> 00:34:42.119
 Roman government

00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:42.539
 official.

00:34:43.099 --> 00:34:44.839
 but one of

00:34:44.839 --> 00:34:45.460
 his close

00:34:45.460 --> 00:34:46.519
 associates.

00:34:47.360 --> 00:34:47.799
 One of

00:34:47.799 --> 00:34:48.299
 his 12

00:34:48.299 --> 00:34:48.819
 disciples.

00:34:49.019 --> 00:34:49.339
 The one

00:34:49.339 --> 00:34:49.639
 whom he

00:34:49.639 --> 00:34:50.179
 had entrusted

00:34:50.179 --> 00:34:50.519
 to keep

00:34:50.519 --> 00:34:50.900
 track of

00:34:50.900 --> 00:34:51.059
 their

00:34:51.059 --> 00:34:51.519
 finances.

00:34:53.619 --> 00:34:54.239
 And where

00:34:54.239 --> 00:34:54.679
 was Jesus

00:34:54.679 --> 00:34:55.139
 crucified?

00:34:55.319 --> 00:34:55.759
 Not in

00:34:55.759 --> 00:34:56.360
 pagan Rome,

00:34:56.460 --> 00:34:56.839
 but in

00:34:56.839 --> 00:34:57.759
 the holy

00:34:57.759 --> 00:34:58.179
 city,

00:34:59.179 --> 00:34:59.539
 Jerusalem.

00:35:01.199 --> 00:35:01.960
 The warning

00:35:01.960 --> 00:35:02.579
 is this.

00:35:03.900 --> 00:35:04.480
 You can

00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:05.000
 be so

00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:06.199
 close to

00:35:06.199 --> 00:35:06.659
 Jesus,

00:35:07.659 --> 00:35:08.519
 but at

00:35:08.519 --> 00:35:08.860
 the same

00:35:08.860 --> 00:35:09.139
 time,

00:35:09.219 --> 00:35:09.839
 so far

00:35:09.839 --> 00:35:10.199
 away.

00:35:12.079 --> 00:35:12.639
 You can

00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:13.079
 be very

00:35:13.079 --> 00:35:13.519
 involved

00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:13.719
 in

00:35:13.719 --> 00:35:13.940
 church

00:35:13.940 --> 00:35:14.420
 activities.

00:35:14.420 --> 00:35:14.839
 You can

00:35:14.839 --> 00:35:15.099
 spend

00:35:15.099 --> 00:35:15.599
 lots of

00:35:15.599 --> 00:35:15.879
 social

00:35:15.879 --> 00:35:16.339
 time with

00:35:16.339 --> 00:35:16.559
 other

00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:16.920
 Christians.

00:35:16.920 --> 00:35:17.359
 You can

00:35:17.359 --> 00:35:18.219
 be very

00:35:18.219 --> 00:35:18.639
 knowledgeable

00:35:18.639 --> 00:35:19.000
 about

00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:19.379
 Christian

00:35:19.379 --> 00:35:19.879
 theology

00:35:19.879 --> 00:35:20.119
 and

00:35:20.119 --> 00:35:20.339
 church

00:35:20.339 --> 00:35:20.799
 polity.

00:35:20.799 --> 00:35:22.639
 But is

00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:23.199
 your gaze

00:35:23.199 --> 00:35:23.859
 fixed on

00:35:23.859 --> 00:35:24.339
 the person

00:35:24.339 --> 00:35:24.779
 of Jesus

00:35:24.779 --> 00:35:25.299
 himself?

00:35:25.300 --> 00:35:28.160
 all the

00:35:28.160 --> 00:35:28.560
 spiritual

00:35:28.560 --> 00:35:29.019
 benefits

00:35:29.019 --> 00:35:29.640
 that Christ

00:35:29.640 --> 00:35:30.140
 promises

00:35:30.140 --> 00:35:30.700
 are found

00:35:30.700 --> 00:35:31.360
 in union

00:35:31.360 --> 00:35:32.120
 with him

00:35:32.120 --> 00:35:34.700
 and nowhere

00:35:34.700 --> 00:35:35.200
 else.

00:35:36.580 --> 00:35:37.220
 Jesus

00:35:37.220 --> 00:35:37.460
 said,

00:35:37.580 --> 00:35:38.460
 abide in

00:35:38.460 --> 00:35:39.000
 me.

00:35:41.700 --> 00:35:42.539
 Keep

00:35:42.539 --> 00:35:43.900
 your gaze

00:35:43.900 --> 00:35:44.800
 fixed on

00:35:44.800 --> 00:35:45.400
 him.

00:35:47.300 --> 00:35:48.180
 Second

00:35:48.180 --> 00:35:48.680
 challenge.

00:35:49.620 --> 00:35:50.580
 The good

00:35:50.580 --> 00:35:50.920
 news that

00:35:50.920 --> 00:35:51.360
 Jesus came

00:35:51.360 --> 00:35:51.820
 to bring

00:35:51.820 --> 00:35:53.420
 is not

00:35:53.420 --> 00:35:53.860
 just for

00:35:53.860 --> 00:35:54.559
 people like

00:35:54.559 --> 00:35:56.140
 you and

00:35:56.140 --> 00:35:56.660
 people who

00:35:56.660 --> 00:35:57.280
 you like.

00:35:58.080 --> 00:35:58.940
 It is also

00:35:58.940 --> 00:35:59.539
 for people

00:35:59.539 --> 00:36:00.519
 unlike you

00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:01.380
 and people

00:36:01.380 --> 00:36:01.900
 who don't

00:36:01.900 --> 00:36:02.519
 like you.

00:36:05.220 --> 00:36:05.980
 That's the

00:36:05.980 --> 00:36:06.480
 challenge of

00:36:06.480 --> 00:36:07.200
 verse 25 to

00:36:07.200 --> 00:36:07.680
 27.

00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:09.780
 Jesus is

00:36:09.780 --> 00:36:09.960
 saying,

00:36:10.340 --> 00:36:10.400
 sometimes

00:36:10.400 --> 00:36:11.260
 God,

00:36:12.140 --> 00:36:12.760
 in his

00:36:12.760 --> 00:36:14.100
 unfathomable

00:36:14.100 --> 00:36:14.920
 kindness,

00:36:15.700 --> 00:36:16.320
 chooses to

00:36:16.320 --> 00:36:17.080
 bless someone

00:36:17.080 --> 00:36:18.740
 else in a

00:36:18.740 --> 00:36:19.480
 way that he

00:36:19.480 --> 00:36:20.320
 has not yet

00:36:20.320 --> 00:36:21.039
 blessed you.

00:36:21.820 --> 00:36:24.360
 that doesn't

00:36:24.360 --> 00:36:24.640
 mean he's

00:36:24.640 --> 00:36:24.960
 never going

00:36:24.960 --> 00:36:25.240
 to bless

00:36:25.240 --> 00:36:25.420
 you.

00:36:25.500 --> 00:36:25.780
 It doesn't

00:36:25.780 --> 00:36:26.300
 mean he's

00:36:26.300 --> 00:36:28.420
 forever

00:36:28.420 --> 00:36:28.880
 cast you

00:36:28.880 --> 00:36:29.200
 off.

00:36:31.440 --> 00:36:32.019
 But he

00:36:32.019 --> 00:36:32.539
 might choose

00:36:32.539 --> 00:36:32.940
 to bless

00:36:32.940 --> 00:36:33.519
 someone that

00:36:33.519 --> 00:36:33.920
 you don't

00:36:33.920 --> 00:36:34.280
 like.

00:36:35.400 --> 00:36:36.100
 Or someone

00:36:36.100 --> 00:36:36.500
 who doesn't

00:36:36.500 --> 00:36:37.000
 like you.

00:36:37.059 --> 00:36:37.400
 Or someone

00:36:37.400 --> 00:36:38.080
 who clearly

00:36:38.080 --> 00:36:38.620
 doesn't

00:36:38.620 --> 00:36:39.380
 deserve

00:36:39.380 --> 00:36:41.720
 his blessing

00:36:41.720 --> 00:36:42.180
 in some

00:36:42.180 --> 00:36:42.680
 particular

00:36:42.680 --> 00:36:43.200
 way.

00:36:44.480 --> 00:36:45.300
 Maybe God

00:36:45.300 --> 00:36:45.840
 gives someone

00:36:45.840 --> 00:36:47.680
 else a

00:36:47.680 --> 00:36:48.160
 job.

00:36:48.780 --> 00:36:49.420
 Or a

00:36:49.420 --> 00:36:49.840
 house.

00:36:50.580 --> 00:36:51.180
 Or a

00:36:51.180 --> 00:36:51.620
 spouse.

00:36:51.820 --> 00:36:53.360
 child.

00:36:54.220 --> 00:36:54.760
 Or good

00:36:54.760 --> 00:36:55.220
 health.

00:36:56.260 --> 00:36:57.160
 Or close

00:36:57.160 --> 00:36:57.660
 community.

00:36:59.360 --> 00:37:00.080
 Maybe that's

00:37:00.080 --> 00:37:00.519
 something that

00:37:00.519 --> 00:37:01.220
 you desperately

00:37:01.220 --> 00:37:02.380
 long for.

00:37:03.180 --> 00:37:03.700
 And don't

00:37:03.700 --> 00:37:04.260
 yet have.

00:37:05.980 --> 00:37:06.400
 And Jesus

00:37:06.400 --> 00:37:06.800
 says,

00:37:07.539 --> 00:37:08.280
 you have no

00:37:08.280 --> 00:37:09.360
 right to

00:37:09.360 --> 00:37:10.440
 resent God

00:37:10.440 --> 00:37:11.160
 for that.

00:37:12.080 --> 00:37:12.980
 Because God

00:37:12.980 --> 00:37:13.580
 didn't have to

00:37:13.580 --> 00:37:14.420
 give you any

00:37:14.420 --> 00:37:15.180
 blessings at all

00:37:15.180 --> 00:37:15.600
 in the first

00:37:15.600 --> 00:37:16.059
 place.

00:37:16.400 --> 00:37:17.160
 He will show

00:37:17.160 --> 00:37:18.019
 mercy on whom

00:37:18.019 --> 00:37:18.559
 he will show

00:37:18.559 --> 00:37:18.940
 mercy.

00:37:19.360 --> 00:37:19.880
 Don't be

00:37:19.880 --> 00:37:20.640
 envious because

00:37:20.639 --> 00:37:21.500
 he's generous.

00:37:24.779 --> 00:37:25.440
 Have you

00:37:25.440 --> 00:37:25.879
 ever looked at

00:37:25.879 --> 00:37:26.379
 someone else

00:37:26.379 --> 00:37:26.879
 and felt

00:37:26.879 --> 00:37:28.400
 on the

00:37:28.400 --> 00:37:28.879
 inside?

00:37:30.139 --> 00:37:30.639
 No.

00:37:31.679 --> 00:37:32.219
 Not

00:37:32.219 --> 00:37:33.079
 them.

00:37:34.079 --> 00:37:34.599
 No.

00:37:35.099 --> 00:37:35.579
 I don't

00:37:35.579 --> 00:37:36.299
 want them

00:37:36.299 --> 00:37:36.879
 to receive

00:37:36.879 --> 00:37:37.460
 mercy and

00:37:37.460 --> 00:37:38.039
 forgiveness in

00:37:38.039 --> 00:37:38.379
 a second

00:37:38.379 --> 00:37:38.679
 chance.

00:37:38.739 --> 00:37:39.139
 They don't

00:37:39.139 --> 00:37:39.819
 deserve it.

00:37:41.000 --> 00:37:41.759
 They deserve

00:37:41.759 --> 00:37:42.099
 to be

00:37:42.099 --> 00:37:42.699
 punished.

00:37:42.699 --> 00:37:42.819
 judged.

00:37:45.519 --> 00:37:46.439
 And Jesus

00:37:46.439 --> 00:37:46.939
 says, don't

00:37:46.939 --> 00:37:47.500
 you remember

00:37:47.500 --> 00:37:49.399
 you did

00:37:49.399 --> 00:37:49.719
 too.

00:37:52.919 --> 00:37:53.779
 Those who've

00:37:53.779 --> 00:37:54.179
 been forgiven

00:37:54.179 --> 00:37:55.859
 much will

00:37:55.859 --> 00:37:56.399
 love much.

00:37:57.659 --> 00:37:58.319
 Those who've

00:37:58.319 --> 00:37:58.739
 been forgiven

00:37:58.739 --> 00:38:00.599
 little will

00:38:00.599 --> 00:38:01.059
 love little.

00:38:03.399 --> 00:38:04.119
 Third

00:38:04.119 --> 00:38:05.500
 challenge.

00:38:05.500 --> 00:38:08.360
 If Jesus

00:38:08.360 --> 00:38:08.719
 came to

00:38:08.719 --> 00:38:09.719
 proclaim good

00:38:09.719 --> 00:38:11.219
 news to

00:38:11.219 --> 00:38:11.719
 the poor,

00:38:12.039 --> 00:38:12.500
 the captive,

00:38:12.980 --> 00:38:13.460
 the blind,

00:38:13.739 --> 00:38:14.360
 the oppressed,

00:38:15.000 --> 00:38:15.760
 both physically

00:38:15.760 --> 00:38:16.619
 and spiritually,

00:38:17.559 --> 00:38:19.139
 then we as

00:38:19.139 --> 00:38:19.719
 spirit-filled

00:38:19.719 --> 00:38:20.440
 followers of

00:38:20.440 --> 00:38:21.420
 Jesus are to

00:38:21.420 --> 00:38:23.199
 join in that

00:38:23.199 --> 00:38:23.780
 mission.

00:38:24.579 --> 00:38:25.039
 In chapter

00:38:25.039 --> 00:38:25.619
 nine, Jesus

00:38:25.619 --> 00:38:26.400
 will send out

00:38:26.400 --> 00:38:27.099
 his disciples

00:38:27.099 --> 00:38:29.320
 to heal and

00:38:29.320 --> 00:38:29.820
 to proclaim

00:38:29.820 --> 00:38:30.579
 the kingdom

00:38:30.579 --> 00:38:31.199
 of God.

00:38:32.360 --> 00:38:33.000
 In the book

00:38:33.000 --> 00:38:33.460
 of Acts, we

00:38:33.460 --> 00:38:33.739
 see the

00:38:33.739 --> 00:38:34.639
 disciples carrying

00:38:34.639 --> 00:38:35.159
 out that

00:38:35.159 --> 00:38:36.079
 mission and

00:38:36.079 --> 00:38:36.679
 going into

00:38:36.679 --> 00:38:37.119
 the nations

00:38:37.119 --> 00:38:37.400
 of the

00:38:37.400 --> 00:38:37.819
 world.

00:38:39.579 --> 00:38:40.480
 Does this

00:38:40.480 --> 00:38:41.199
 mission of

00:38:41.199 --> 00:38:41.719
 Jesus

00:38:41.719 --> 00:38:43.579
 characterize us?

00:38:44.420 --> 00:38:44.920
 Are we

00:38:44.920 --> 00:38:45.359
 actually

00:38:45.359 --> 00:38:46.139
 participating

00:38:46.139 --> 00:38:47.480
 in what

00:38:47.480 --> 00:38:48.379
 Jesus describes

00:38:48.379 --> 00:38:48.839
 in verse

00:38:48.839 --> 00:38:49.480
 18 and

00:38:49.480 --> 00:38:49.879
 19?

00:38:51.819 --> 00:38:52.920
 Or are we

00:38:52.920 --> 00:38:54.319
 staying in

00:38:54.319 --> 00:38:54.980
 our comfortable

00:38:54.980 --> 00:38:57.619
 zones?

00:38:59.619 --> 00:39:00.480
 And living

00:39:00.480 --> 00:39:00.980
 out of

00:39:00.980 --> 00:39:03.119
 fear and

00:39:03.119 --> 00:39:04.019
 making excuses?

00:39:04.639 --> 00:39:06.839
 it is

00:39:06.839 --> 00:39:08.019
 often costly

00:39:08.019 --> 00:39:09.279
 and uncomfortable

00:39:09.279 --> 00:39:10.500
 and sometimes

00:39:10.500 --> 00:39:11.659
 even dangerous

00:39:11.659 --> 00:39:12.679
 to do what

00:39:12.679 --> 00:39:13.619
 Jesus describes

00:39:13.619 --> 00:39:14.559
 in verses

00:39:14.559 --> 00:39:15.539
 18 and

00:39:15.539 --> 00:39:15.940
 19.

00:39:17.799 --> 00:39:18.659
 Are we

00:39:18.659 --> 00:39:19.059
 willing to

00:39:19.059 --> 00:39:19.879
 make sacrifices

00:39:19.879 --> 00:39:20.500
 to follow

00:39:20.500 --> 00:39:21.119
 Jesus in

00:39:21.119 --> 00:39:21.839
 those ways,

00:39:21.920 --> 00:39:22.719
 even if other

00:39:22.719 --> 00:39:23.599
 Christians around

00:39:23.599 --> 00:39:24.339
 us don't seem

00:39:24.339 --> 00:39:24.839
 to be making

00:39:24.839 --> 00:39:25.379
 the same

00:39:25.379 --> 00:39:26.319
 sacrifices?

00:39:27.319 --> 00:39:27.900
 In John

00:39:27.900 --> 00:39:28.400
 21,

00:39:29.079 --> 00:39:30.379
 when Jesus

00:39:30.379 --> 00:39:30.960
 called Peter

00:39:30.960 --> 00:39:31.879
 to follow him

00:39:31.880 --> 00:39:33.019
 in caring

00:39:33.019 --> 00:39:33.500
 for his

00:39:33.500 --> 00:39:33.820
 sheep.

00:39:35.180 --> 00:39:35.680
 And when

00:39:35.680 --> 00:39:36.079
 Jesus said

00:39:36.079 --> 00:39:36.360
 to Peter,

00:39:36.460 --> 00:39:36.920
 one day,

00:39:37.180 --> 00:39:38.660
 I'm actually

00:39:38.660 --> 00:39:39.079
 going to call

00:39:39.079 --> 00:39:39.460
 you to lay

00:39:39.460 --> 00:39:39.740
 down your

00:39:39.740 --> 00:39:40.099
 life for

00:39:40.099 --> 00:39:40.320
 me.

00:39:41.119 --> 00:39:41.559
 Peter's

00:39:41.559 --> 00:39:42.340
 first response

00:39:42.340 --> 00:39:43.160
 was to turn

00:39:43.160 --> 00:39:43.539
 and look at

00:39:43.539 --> 00:39:43.820
 another

00:39:43.820 --> 00:39:44.380
 disciple and

00:39:44.380 --> 00:39:44.519
 say,

00:39:44.599 --> 00:39:44.900
 Lord,

00:39:45.160 --> 00:39:46.119
 what about

00:39:46.119 --> 00:39:46.539
 him?

00:39:48.260 --> 00:39:48.880
 And Jesus

00:39:48.880 --> 00:39:49.099
 said,

00:39:49.160 --> 00:39:49.440
 what does

00:39:49.440 --> 00:39:49.840
 that matter

00:39:49.840 --> 00:39:50.260
 to you?

00:39:50.260 --> 00:39:51.559
 You must

00:39:51.559 --> 00:39:52.800
 follow me.

00:39:52.800 --> 00:39:57.340
 Jesus

00:39:57.340 --> 00:39:57.900
 comforts the

00:39:57.900 --> 00:39:58.440
 afflicted

00:39:58.440 --> 00:39:59.539
 and he

00:39:59.539 --> 00:39:59.880
 challenges

00:39:59.880 --> 00:40:00.360
 the comfortable.

00:40:02.600 --> 00:40:03.280
 And Luke

00:40:03.280 --> 00:40:04.140
 puts this

00:40:04.140 --> 00:40:04.560
 story at

00:40:04.560 --> 00:40:05.100
 the beginning

00:40:05.100 --> 00:40:06.720
 of his

00:40:06.720 --> 00:40:07.360
 account of

00:40:07.360 --> 00:40:07.580
 Jesus'

00:40:07.720 --> 00:40:07.960
 public

00:40:07.960 --> 00:40:08.460
 ministry

00:40:08.460 --> 00:40:09.340
 because it

00:40:09.340 --> 00:40:09.780
 sets the

00:40:09.780 --> 00:40:10.320
 pattern for

00:40:10.320 --> 00:40:10.640
 all that

00:40:10.640 --> 00:40:10.980
 is to

00:40:10.980 --> 00:40:11.220
 come.

00:40:12.420 --> 00:40:12.700
 In the

00:40:12.700 --> 00:40:13.240
 coming weeks

00:40:13.240 --> 00:40:13.560
 we'll see

00:40:13.560 --> 00:40:13.880
 Jesus

00:40:13.880 --> 00:40:14.320
 comforting

00:40:14.320 --> 00:40:14.560
 the

00:40:14.560 --> 00:40:15.100
 afflicted,

00:40:15.519 --> 00:40:15.760
 healing

00:40:15.760 --> 00:40:16.280
 the sick,

00:40:16.580 --> 00:40:16.900
 cleansing

00:40:16.900 --> 00:40:17.320
 lepers,

00:40:17.500 --> 00:40:18.019
 driving out

00:40:18.019 --> 00:40:18.340
 demons,

00:40:18.580 --> 00:40:19.039
 proclaiming

00:40:19.039 --> 00:40:19.340
 the good

00:40:19.340 --> 00:40:19.720
 news,

00:40:19.980 --> 00:40:20.280
 and we'll

00:40:20.280 --> 00:40:20.700
 see Jesus

00:40:20.700 --> 00:40:21.580
 challenging

00:40:21.580 --> 00:40:22.180
 the comfortable

00:40:22.180 --> 00:40:22.700
 warning,

00:40:22.800 --> 00:40:23.680
 and even

00:40:23.680 --> 00:40:24.220
 provoking

00:40:24.220 --> 00:40:24.740
 the proud

00:40:24.740 --> 00:40:25.640
 and complacent.

00:40:28.019 --> 00:40:28.620
 That's not

00:40:28.620 --> 00:40:28.940
 all.

00:40:29.500 --> 00:40:30.060
 The end

00:40:30.060 --> 00:40:30.340
 of this

00:40:30.340 --> 00:40:30.760
 story

00:40:30.760 --> 00:40:32.560
 gives us

00:40:32.560 --> 00:40:33.000
 a hint

00:40:33.000 --> 00:40:34.260
 of how

00:40:34.260 --> 00:40:34.580
 Luke's

00:40:34.580 --> 00:40:34.880
 gospel

00:40:34.880 --> 00:40:35.240
 and how

00:40:35.240 --> 00:40:35.480
 Jesus'

00:40:35.660 --> 00:40:35.940
 life is

00:40:35.940 --> 00:40:36.120
 going to

00:40:36.120 --> 00:40:36.460
 end.

00:40:37.420 --> 00:40:37.900
 How does

00:40:37.900 --> 00:40:38.260
 this story

00:40:38.260 --> 00:40:38.640
 end?

00:40:38.760 --> 00:40:39.300
 Verse 28

00:40:39.300 --> 00:40:39.760
 to 30.

00:40:41.039 --> 00:40:41.460
 The

00:40:41.460 --> 00:40:41.920
 townspeople

00:40:41.920 --> 00:40:42.300
 are filled

00:40:42.300 --> 00:40:42.860
 with wrath.

00:40:43.880 --> 00:40:44.500
 They drive

00:40:44.500 --> 00:40:44.820
 him out of

00:40:44.820 --> 00:40:45.039
 town.

00:40:45.120 --> 00:40:45.360
 They try

00:40:45.360 --> 00:40:45.720
 to throw

00:40:45.720 --> 00:40:46.039
 him off

00:40:46.039 --> 00:40:46.360
 a cliff.

00:40:46.440 --> 00:40:46.780
 It doesn't

00:40:46.780 --> 00:40:47.340
 work this

00:40:47.340 --> 00:40:47.780
 time.

00:40:50.300 --> 00:40:50.980
 But later

00:40:50.980 --> 00:40:51.539
 on when he

00:40:51.539 --> 00:40:52.240
 finally arrives

00:40:52.239 --> 00:40:52.839
 in Jerusalem,

00:40:53.839 --> 00:40:56.299
 a crowd

00:40:56.299 --> 00:40:56.639
 that had

00:40:56.639 --> 00:40:57.039
 initially

00:40:57.039 --> 00:40:57.939
 praised him

00:40:57.939 --> 00:40:58.859
 and hailed

00:40:58.859 --> 00:40:59.959
 him as

00:40:59.959 --> 00:41:00.459
 the king

00:41:00.459 --> 00:41:01.259
 would rise

00:41:01.259 --> 00:41:01.739
 up against

00:41:01.739 --> 00:41:02.579
 him and

00:41:02.579 --> 00:41:03.019
 drive him

00:41:03.019 --> 00:41:03.299
 out of

00:41:03.299 --> 00:41:04.099
 town and

00:41:04.099 --> 00:41:04.459
 take him

00:41:04.459 --> 00:41:04.919
 to a top

00:41:04.919 --> 00:41:05.479
 of a hill

00:41:05.479 --> 00:41:06.199
 and nail

00:41:06.199 --> 00:41:06.599
 him to a

00:41:06.599 --> 00:41:07.019
 cross.

00:41:09.939 --> 00:41:10.679
 And on that

00:41:10.679 --> 00:41:11.179
 day, it would

00:41:11.179 --> 00:41:12.019
 seem like all

00:41:12.019 --> 00:41:13.159
 was lost

00:41:13.159 --> 00:41:15.479
 and that Jesus'

00:41:15.659 --> 00:41:16.059
 mission had

00:41:16.059 --> 00:41:16.339
 failed.

00:41:16.340 --> 00:41:16.400
 world.

00:41:17.280 --> 00:41:17.960
 But it

00:41:17.960 --> 00:41:18.440
 wasn't.

00:41:19.200 --> 00:41:19.840
 And it

00:41:19.840 --> 00:41:20.340
 didn't.

00:41:20.680 --> 00:41:21.300
 Because three

00:41:21.300 --> 00:41:21.860
 days later,

00:41:21.940 --> 00:41:22.440
 he got up

00:41:22.440 --> 00:41:22.820
 out of the

00:41:22.820 --> 00:41:23.720
 tomb and

00:41:23.720 --> 00:41:24.519
 walked out

00:41:24.519 --> 00:41:25.300
 and appeared

00:41:25.300 --> 00:41:25.660
 to his

00:41:25.660 --> 00:41:26.160
 astonished

00:41:26.160 --> 00:41:27.380
 disciples and

00:41:27.380 --> 00:41:28.019
 sent them to

00:41:28.019 --> 00:41:28.300
 be his

00:41:28.300 --> 00:41:28.780
 spirit-filled

00:41:28.780 --> 00:41:29.559
 ambassadors in

00:41:29.559 --> 00:41:30.059
 the world and

00:41:30.059 --> 00:41:30.700
 he's still

00:41:30.700 --> 00:41:31.620
 building his

00:41:31.620 --> 00:41:32.620
 kingdom today.

00:41:32.619 --> 00:41:32.719
 day.

00:41:34.679 --> 00:41:35.599
 This morning's

00:41:35.599 --> 00:41:36.139
 passage ends

00:41:36.139 --> 00:41:36.880
 in verse 30

00:41:36.880 --> 00:41:38.739
 with a seemingly

00:41:38.739 --> 00:41:39.960
 effortless display

00:41:39.960 --> 00:41:41.380
 of Jesus'

00:41:41.579 --> 00:41:41.960
 sovereignty.

00:41:42.900 --> 00:41:43.440
 Despite

00:41:43.440 --> 00:41:44.000
 opposition,

00:41:44.900 --> 00:41:45.380
 he walked

00:41:45.380 --> 00:41:45.960
 right through

00:41:45.960 --> 00:41:46.480
 the crowd

00:41:46.480 --> 00:41:46.980
 and went on

00:41:46.980 --> 00:41:47.500
 his way.

00:41:48.980 --> 00:41:49.699
 And isn't

00:41:49.699 --> 00:41:50.099
 that what he

00:41:50.099 --> 00:41:50.559
 does in the

00:41:50.559 --> 00:41:50.980
 end?

00:41:52.079 --> 00:41:52.960
 He walks

00:41:52.960 --> 00:41:53.480
 right through

00:41:53.480 --> 00:41:54.639
 death and

00:41:54.639 --> 00:41:55.179
 comes out of

00:41:55.179 --> 00:41:56.219
 the grave and

00:41:56.219 --> 00:41:56.799
 goes on his

00:41:56.799 --> 00:41:57.279
 way,

00:41:57.699 --> 00:41:59.679
 bringing good

00:41:59.679 --> 00:42:00.259
 news to the

00:42:00.259 --> 00:42:02.579
 poor and

00:42:02.579 --> 00:42:03.139
 comfort for

00:42:03.139 --> 00:42:03.559
 the broken

00:42:03.559 --> 00:42:06.319
 hearted and

00:42:06.319 --> 00:42:07.400
 freedom for

00:42:07.400 --> 00:42:10.460
 the captives and

00:42:10.460 --> 00:42:11.440
 opening eyes

00:42:11.440 --> 00:42:12.279
 that are blind

00:42:12.279 --> 00:42:14.380
 and forgiving

00:42:14.380 --> 00:42:15.079
 and setting

00:42:15.079 --> 00:42:15.519
 free the

00:42:15.519 --> 00:42:18.259
 oppressed and

00:42:18.259 --> 00:42:18.719
 sending the

00:42:18.719 --> 00:42:19.340
 favor of God

00:42:19.340 --> 00:42:20.299
 upon all who

00:42:20.299 --> 00:42:20.880
 turn to him.

00:42:23.179 --> 00:42:24.039
 This is our

00:42:24.039 --> 00:42:24.239
 king.

00:42:25.000 --> 00:42:25.500
 Let us

00:42:25.500 --> 00:42:25.719
 pray.

00:42:32.579 --> 00:42:41.340
 Jesus, we

00:42:41.340 --> 00:42:41.880
 praise you.

00:42:43.960 --> 00:42:45.000
 Spirit-filled

00:42:45.000 --> 00:42:46.059
 servant of the

00:42:46.059 --> 00:42:50.099
 Lord, we

00:42:50.099 --> 00:42:50.880
 praise you for

00:42:50.880 --> 00:42:53.279
 the message of

00:42:53.279 --> 00:42:54.139
 mercy and

00:42:54.139 --> 00:42:54.679
 healing and

00:42:54.679 --> 00:42:55.360
 deliverance that

00:42:55.360 --> 00:42:57.619
 you come to

00:42:57.619 --> 00:42:58.099
 us with.

00:42:58.099 --> 00:42:58.159
 faith.

00:43:00.299 --> 00:43:01.139
 We pray that

00:43:01.139 --> 00:43:01.699
 we would heed

00:43:01.699 --> 00:43:02.460
 your words of

00:43:02.460 --> 00:43:03.659
 challenge and

00:43:03.659 --> 00:43:06.739
 warning, that

00:43:06.739 --> 00:43:07.199
 those would be

00:43:07.199 --> 00:43:07.880
 used in our

00:43:07.880 --> 00:43:11.639
 lives, that

00:43:11.639 --> 00:43:11.980
 our hearts

00:43:11.980 --> 00:43:12.420
 would not be

00:43:12.420 --> 00:43:15.299
 hardened, but

00:43:15.299 --> 00:43:15.839
 Lord, that you

00:43:15.839 --> 00:43:17.099
 would break us

00:43:17.099 --> 00:43:17.699
 open to you.

00:43:21.159 --> 00:43:21.920
 Humble us,

00:43:21.920 --> 00:43:26.740
 show us that

00:43:26.740 --> 00:43:27.000
 we are

00:43:27.000 --> 00:43:27.900
 spiritually poor

00:43:27.900 --> 00:43:30.159
 and blind and

00:43:30.159 --> 00:43:31.159
 captive and

00:43:31.159 --> 00:43:32.119
 oppressed apart

00:43:32.119 --> 00:43:32.559
 from you.

00:43:35.119 --> 00:43:35.960
 Lord, as your

00:43:35.960 --> 00:43:36.780
 spirit works within

00:43:36.780 --> 00:43:37.400
 us, would you

00:43:37.400 --> 00:43:38.000
 continue to

00:43:38.000 --> 00:43:38.840
 transform us into

00:43:38.840 --> 00:43:41.480
 your image, that

00:43:41.480 --> 00:43:43.240
 we might carry

00:43:43.240 --> 00:43:47.800
 this message to

00:43:47.800 --> 00:43:48.300
 all those who

00:43:48.300 --> 00:43:48.800
 you put in our

00:43:48.800 --> 00:43:49.119
 path.

00:43:49.119 --> 00:43:51.980
 we pray these

00:43:51.980 --> 00:43:52.420
 things in your

00:43:52.420 --> 00:43:52.639
 name.

00:43:53.119 --> 00:43:53.380
 Amen.