WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:06.160 Good morning church family, my name is Bec and today I'm going to be doing the Bible reading from Matthew chapter 9. 00:00:06.860 --> 00:00:14.620 So this is straight after last week where Jesus heals the demon-possessed men and the city asked him to leave. 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:18.820 So we're going to read Matthew chapter 9, starting at verse 1. 00:00:20.219 --> 00:00:24.440 And getting into a boat, he crossed over and came to his own city. 00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:29.859 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic lying on a bed. 00:00:30.620 --> 00:00:38.159 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, take heart, my son, your sins are forgiven. 00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:45.019 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, this man is blaspheming. 00:00:45.679 --> 00:00:52.760 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, why do you think evil in your hearts? 00:00:53.299 --> 00:00:59.840 For which is easier, to say your sins are forgiven or to say rise and walk? 00:01:00.939 --> 00:01:06.060 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. 00:01:06.659 --> 00:01:11.659 He then said to the paralytic, rise, pick up your bed and go home. 00:01:11.659 --> 00:01:15.019 And he rose and went home. 00:01:16.119 --> 00:01:23.120 When the crowd saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God who had given such authority to men. 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:29.719 Fear is one of those things that we all have. 00:01:30.780 --> 00:01:35.980 And perhaps we don't like to admit how much it plays a part in our daily lives. 00:01:35.980 --> 00:01:41.380 There's fear of COVID at the minute. 00:01:42.320 --> 00:01:45.120 But then more generally, there's just fear of the future. 00:01:45.500 --> 00:01:46.760 There's a lot of that around at the minute. 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:47.880 Climate change. 00:01:47.879 --> 00:01:50.199 Increasing military threats. 00:01:51.379 --> 00:01:52.239 Losing our job. 00:01:52.339 --> 00:01:52.939 Losing our health. 00:01:54.039 --> 00:01:55.979 Fear of losing our comfortable lifestyle. 00:01:57.119 --> 00:02:00.299 Perhaps even fear of our failures as Christians. 00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:05.439 There's just so many points at which fear can get a hold of us and does get a hold of us. 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:10.579 Our most deep-seated fears are shown in relationships. 00:02:12.199 --> 00:02:19.319 We fear being exploited, manipulated, betrayed, abandoned. 00:02:20.099 --> 00:02:25.340 And all those things we fear, they're massive fears, when our craving is so much the opposite. 00:02:25.599 --> 00:02:29.020 Our craving is to be loved and accepted. 00:02:29.020 --> 00:02:38.340 Larry Crabb says that driving all our fears in relationships is the more powerful fear, 00:02:38.460 --> 00:02:44.500 the more deep-seated fear of being abandoned and rejected by God when we die. 00:02:46.660 --> 00:02:52.360 So behind all our fears is that notion that, well, someday we're going to stand before the Lord 00:02:52.360 --> 00:02:55.939 and perhaps be abandoned and rejected by Him. 00:02:56.980 --> 00:02:58.000 So fear is a reality. 00:02:59.020 --> 00:03:01.000 But there's an important thing to know here. 00:03:01.140 --> 00:03:02.780 Fear isn't always the same. 00:03:04.680 --> 00:03:06.040 Some fear is good. 00:03:06.820 --> 00:03:07.700 Some fear is helpful. 00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:09.280 Why? 00:03:09.560 --> 00:03:11.180 Because it's based on evidence. 00:03:11.960 --> 00:03:12.980 It's based on experience. 00:03:13.080 --> 00:03:13.939 It's based on reality. 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:19.080 And of course then some fear is bad. 00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:20.560 Some fear is debilitating. 00:03:21.600 --> 00:03:24.540 It's unnecessary because it's based on irrational thinking. 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:26.860 It's based on stuff that's contrary to the evidence. 00:03:26.860 --> 00:03:32.820 It's based on our own perception of reality or perhaps even based on our own imagination. 00:03:32.819 --> 00:03:40.239 So dealing with fear well, therefore, is about having a healthy fear. 00:03:41.780 --> 00:03:44.579 A healthy fear motivates healthy responses. 00:03:45.379 --> 00:03:52.939 Healthy responses will move us towards truth and produce real personal benefits. 00:03:52.939 --> 00:04:07.180 The introduction is that way because I think in this section of Matthew, fear is also a key response that links these units together, these miracle units together. 00:04:07.180 --> 00:04:12.020 It's a very big part of this section of the life and ministry of Jesus. 00:04:12.740 --> 00:04:13.800 And it goes something like this. 00:04:14.060 --> 00:04:19.100 As Jesus confronts the world, and that's what he's doing in these chapters, chapter 8 and 9 specifically, 00:04:19.100 --> 00:04:30.060 As Jesus confronts the world, then his power, his authority, his priority and mission produces and prompts fear responses. 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:33.740 Some good fear responses, some bad fear responses. 00:04:33.740 --> 00:04:43.780 And the incident of the man healing this paralyzed man has a full range of responses. 00:04:44.800 --> 00:04:50.100 But before we get into that, I want to just give you a little bit of bigger context again, as I often do. 00:04:50.379 --> 00:04:56.540 If you want to turn back to chapter 4, verse 17, we'll just set this whole section in context once again. 00:04:56.540 --> 00:05:02.259 Where Jesus from that began to preach saying, repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 00:05:03.740 --> 00:05:15.360 Jesus frames his mission as the long-awaited Messiah, God's king and savior, come to reestablish God's kingdom or rule in this world. 00:05:16.699 --> 00:05:20.759 And not surprisingly, he's a demanding king. 00:05:20.759 --> 00:05:32.019 His arrival therefore demands repentance, which is, among other things, just a complete reset of how we think and how we act as we think about God 00:05:32.019 --> 00:05:35.240 and how God operates in this world and how we ought to relate to God in this world. 00:05:37.199 --> 00:05:43.500 And Matthew aligns that with what the prophets, especially the prophet Isaiah wrote. 00:05:44.459 --> 00:05:50.959 And he uses massive bookends to sort of frame everything he's saying from chapter 4 through to the end of chapter 9. 00:05:50.959 --> 00:06:01.180 Chapter 4, verse 23 to 24 and chapter 9, verse 35, the two bookends, where it talks about Jesus teaching and proclaiming and healing. 00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:03.000 That's the mark of his ministry. 00:06:04.219 --> 00:06:07.379 Healing every sort of disease and illness and ailment. 00:06:09.419 --> 00:06:16.339 Jesus' authority, identity and priority in mission was marked by teaching, proclaiming and healing. 00:06:16.339 --> 00:06:21.560 And then in chapter 7 and 28, after the Sermon on the Mount, we find that working out. 00:06:21.959 --> 00:06:23.019 The people were amazed. 00:06:23.959 --> 00:06:28.039 And that marvel and amazement has both excitement and fear in it. 00:06:29.299 --> 00:06:31.179 It's incredible what they're just hearing. 00:06:31.479 --> 00:06:33.979 But it also is unnerving what they're hearing. 00:06:34.699 --> 00:06:38.759 Because of the radical nature of it and the radical challenge embedded in it. 00:06:38.759 --> 00:06:46.420 And chapter 8 and 9 then is carefully structured as three groups of three miracles. 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:52.879 Each group having a radical demand for loyalty to Jesus after each set of three miracles. 00:06:53.819 --> 00:06:58.759 Each miracle demonstrates that Jesus is God and King in God's world. 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:02.300 Because he does the things that only God could do. 00:07:02.599 --> 00:07:04.099 So each miracle is amazing. 00:07:05.039 --> 00:07:06.480 But it's also unnerving. 00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:09.080 What do we do with this man? 00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:16.780 Each miracle demonstrates Jesus' compassion and priority as God's King and Savior. 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:19.020 Reversing the effects of sin. 00:07:19.980 --> 00:07:25.060 Restoring sin distorted image bearers to fellowship with God. 00:07:26.740 --> 00:07:31.620 Now the healing of this paralyzed man is the third miracle in the second group of three. 00:07:31.620 --> 00:07:38.500 And these three miracles particularly are linked by fear responses. 00:07:38.500 --> 00:07:48.839 And these fear responses, as I've said before, are prompted by confrontation with Jesus' power, authority, and priority. 00:07:49.500 --> 00:07:51.439 So look back at the one in the storm. 00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:52.500 Jesus calmed the storm. 00:07:53.560 --> 00:07:59.500 The disciples were in fear of their lives due to the storm on the lake. 00:07:59.500 --> 00:08:05.980 But then their fear changes and they were fearful of this man who calmed the storm. 00:08:06.620 --> 00:08:08.480 What sort of man is this? 00:08:08.480 --> 00:08:21.780 The people at Gadara, where these two demon-possessed men were, they start off with a deep fear of the violence and the power of these two possessed men. 00:08:23.780 --> 00:08:27.540 And then their fear changes to a fear of Jesus. 00:08:28.200 --> 00:08:30.600 Having seen him heal these two men. 00:08:30.600 --> 00:08:32.500 And they're so fearful of Jesus. 00:08:32.620 --> 00:08:35.279 They say, look, please, just go away and leave us alone. 00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:38.860 And then, of course, the demons. 00:08:39.300 --> 00:08:41.620 They cower before Jesus. 00:08:41.920 --> 00:08:46.000 They can see past Jesus to the fact that Jesus has got it. 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:47.440 And they beg Jesus. 00:08:47.740 --> 00:08:48.700 Don't destroy us now. 00:08:49.560 --> 00:08:50.980 Just let us go into the pigs. 00:08:50.980 --> 00:08:57.539 A range of fear responses. 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:04.000 As people are confronted, as Jesus confronts the world. 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:12.940 Now, the immediate context, then, as we sweep into chapters 9, verses 1 to 8, continues with more fear responses. 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:17.620 So, put in a setting here, Jesus is back in Capernaum. 00:09:17.620 --> 00:09:24.399 And Matthew then takes us straight into the story of the healing of this paralyzed man. 00:09:24.620 --> 00:09:26.820 No background details like Mark and Luke gives. 00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:33.560 And I think Matthew doing that actually creates a contrast with what's gone before, the fear responses of the Gadarenes. 00:09:34.659 --> 00:09:43.019 And now, these five blokes who come to Jesus in helplessness and yet confidence. 00:09:43.019 --> 00:09:47.720 These blokes show great faith in Jesus. 00:09:48.559 --> 00:09:52.419 That is, they're able to see past the circumstance of their friend. 00:09:52.500 --> 00:09:54.120 This guy's been paralyzed for a lifetime. 00:09:54.659 --> 00:10:01.899 They're able to see past the circumstance of their friend to the compassion and healing power of Jesus. 00:10:06.840 --> 00:10:09.079 Everybody present is expecting a miracle. 00:10:09.080 --> 00:10:12.440 A miracle of healing. 00:10:13.080 --> 00:10:20.540 But then Jesus opens the dialogue by saying, I think, quite unexpectedly, as Marie's brought that out already. 00:10:22.420 --> 00:10:24.440 And just feel these words. 00:10:25.200 --> 00:10:27.440 Take heart, my son. 00:10:28.660 --> 00:10:29.639 Your sins are forgiven. 00:10:29.639 --> 00:10:33.639 Why? 00:10:33.639 --> 00:10:34.879 Now, why? 00:10:35.220 --> 00:10:38.360 Why would Jesus lead out with those words? 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:46.159 Because his words expose the unseen reality for this man. 00:10:47.659 --> 00:10:49.639 There's a reality, a physical reality. 00:10:49.779 --> 00:10:50.399 It's very obvious. 00:10:50.539 --> 00:10:51.580 Has been all his lifetime. 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:52.199 He's paralyzed. 00:10:53.939 --> 00:10:57.500 But Jesus wants to expose the unseen reality for this man. 00:10:57.500 --> 00:11:00.519 It's a much deeper spiritual paralysis. 00:11:02.779 --> 00:11:05.460 And it's caused by fear of God. 00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:07.259 And caused by sin. 00:11:08.679 --> 00:11:09.879 So how does that work? 00:11:10.039 --> 00:11:22.000 Well, severe disabilities were thought to be a very obvious, tangible, physical evidence of God's curse on that person. 00:11:22.139 --> 00:11:23.460 For a particular sin. 00:11:23.460 --> 00:11:37.820 So, as this guy is brought by his mates to Jesus, his fears for the future would have been deep and very, very persistent. 00:11:37.820 --> 00:11:49.800 What if my friends who are sticking with me thus far, what if they abandon me because I'm accursed and they don't want to be around me anymore? 00:11:50.260 --> 00:11:51.400 Then what will become of me? 00:11:51.399 --> 00:12:01.500 And when I die, I'm already living with the evidence of God's curse for some sin or other. 00:12:01.779 --> 00:12:04.860 But when I die, all my sin is taken into account. 00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:08.959 Will I experience God's curse even in a more tormenting way? 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:11.059 In a more debilitating way? 00:12:11.059 --> 00:12:17.099 The man knew he was physically paralyzed. 00:12:17.879 --> 00:12:23.539 But my suspicion is, as he came to Jesus, he also knew he was spiritually paralyzed. 00:12:25.199 --> 00:12:26.659 Unable to stop sinning. 00:12:27.599 --> 00:12:30.439 Unable to get away from the curse of God. 00:12:30.819 --> 00:12:34.439 Unable to stop God's wrath from falling upon him at some point in the future. 00:12:36.779 --> 00:12:39.099 It would have been a deep fear indeed, my friends. 00:12:41.059 --> 00:12:42.059 Unable to stop sinning. 00:12:42.059 --> 00:12:43.059 Unable to stop sinning. 00:12:45.059 --> 00:12:50.899 And Jesus speaks into that deepest of fears. 00:12:53.479 --> 00:12:59.539 Jesus speaks gently into that deepest of fears. 00:13:00.699 --> 00:13:02.559 Take heart, my son. 00:13:03.559 --> 00:13:04.199 Take heart. 00:13:04.200 --> 00:13:13.040 Stop being driven by fear of me. 00:13:13.680 --> 00:13:16.200 Your friends have come to me, brought you to me. 00:13:17.180 --> 00:13:19.100 But I know you're fearful of me. 00:13:21.060 --> 00:13:22.580 Stop being fearful. 00:13:22.860 --> 00:13:24.680 Stop being driven by fear of me. 00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:27.960 And instead, be comforted. 00:13:29.020 --> 00:13:29.700 Encouraged. 00:13:30.520 --> 00:13:31.440 Be confident. 00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:34.700 Your sins are forgiven. 00:13:35.260 --> 00:13:38.180 You are in good hands as you come to me. 00:13:41.180 --> 00:13:47.740 It's as if Jesus said to me, yes, my son, you came to me in your helplessness. 00:13:47.880 --> 00:13:49.180 You came to me needy. 00:13:49.680 --> 00:13:52.100 You came to me deeply fearful. 00:13:52.100 --> 00:14:01.720 And then your fear got worse because your confrontation with me exposed an even deeper plight. 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:05.680 Your situation is worse than you first thought it was, perhaps. 00:14:06.440 --> 00:14:10.440 As you now wrestle with your sin. 00:14:10.440 --> 00:14:23.420 But my declaration to you, my son, is that your sin, all of it, is forgiven. 00:14:23.419 --> 00:14:33.819 Not only that, but the word my son means he's been restored to full family privileges. 00:14:35.339 --> 00:14:42.039 Fully accepted in relationship to Jesus, son, and therefore heir. 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:50.219 Now those sort of theologies don't develop until much later after Jesus is killed and resurrected and goes back to heaven. 00:14:50.220 --> 00:14:52.899 But it's all there in embryonic form. 00:14:56.440 --> 00:15:01.420 Now friends, how sweet those words must have sounded. 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:08.279 I've been working on this all week, on these words. 00:15:08.440 --> 00:15:10.940 I thought I would get over it this morning, but I haven't got over it this morning. 00:15:11.379 --> 00:15:12.019 It's come back. 00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:14.340 I was almost going to say it's come back to haunt me. 00:15:14.340 --> 00:15:16.500 But those words are so powerful. 00:15:16.940 --> 00:15:18.180 Take heart, my son. 00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:21.660 Your sins are forgiven. 00:15:26.139 --> 00:15:27.240 And here it is. 00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:29.440 One word. 00:15:31.280 --> 00:15:32.280 Two lots of fear. 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:35.360 A bad fear response. 00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:36.480 A good fear response. 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:41.840 The fear response brings this man to Jesus. 00:15:42.580 --> 00:15:48.340 And the word of Jesus both exposes the depths of his sin and his fear. 00:15:49.700 --> 00:15:52.440 And at the same time, dispels it. 00:15:54.940 --> 00:15:56.300 There's the gospel for you. 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:00.840 Why do we need to fear? 00:16:01.560 --> 00:16:03.320 Come to Jesus in all our sin. 00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:07.140 His word will expose it. 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:08.260 There's no question about that. 00:16:09.580 --> 00:16:11.320 And that's partly behind my tears this morning. 00:16:11.760 --> 00:16:13.960 But at the same time, his word dispels it. 00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:21.220 How sweet those words must have been. 00:16:23.580 --> 00:16:27.720 The focus shifts now to the scribes who come to Jesus. 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:29.620 But they come in outrage. 00:16:29.620 --> 00:16:33.779 At Jesus' claim to be God. 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:36.799 They know jolly well what Jesus is claiming. 00:16:37.159 --> 00:16:38.860 When he says your sins are forgiven. 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:43.560 They were the theological professors of the Jewish scriptures. 00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:47.000 And they knew that Jesus was claiming to be equal with God. 00:16:48.419 --> 00:16:52.399 And in their eyes, that was the worst sin a person could commit. 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:58.819 So in their eyes, as they looked at Jesus, he was far worse than the paralyzed man. 00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:01.860 He deserved God's curse even more than the paralyzed man. 00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:06.039 He deserved to die for such arrogance. 00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:13.159 And perhaps their outrage also were not told. 00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:17.200 But perhaps they thought, well, this man obviously is accursed by God. 00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:25.099 So how dare this man, Jesus, offer him kindness and deliverance when God's already ruled on his fate. 00:17:25.099 --> 00:17:35.179 And in response to them, Jesus reveals their internal reality as well. 00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:41.199 They also are suffering from a spiritual paralysis and fear. 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:46.059 Just as deep, just as strong as that paralyzed man, but different. 00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:56.639 And thinking about the options Jesus gave these guys in verse 5, it's not quite what we would think. 00:17:56.740 --> 00:18:02.460 Because the scribes, I suspect, would have thought it easier to say, get up and walk. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:07.159 Now, why do I say that? 00:18:07.539 --> 00:18:13.740 Because I think for the scribes, the really difficult, the really dangerous thing to say was your sins are forgiven. 00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:17.599 Because a statement like that was to invite God's wrath to fall on you. 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:22.039 And if God's wrath didn't fall on you, certainly the wrath of the scribes would and the Pharisees. 00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:26.420 So I think they would have thought it was easier to say, get up and walk. 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:28.900 Because the worst that would come out of that is Jesus would just look like a fool. 00:18:29.420 --> 00:18:30.400 Because he couldn't do it. 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:35.500 See, the scribes knew their scriptures well. 00:18:35.579 --> 00:18:39.640 They knew Moses and Elijah had done wonderful miracles. 00:18:39.640 --> 00:18:45.080 They knew to associate miracles with God's special servants. 00:18:46.080 --> 00:18:47.980 They had actually witnessed Jesus' miracles. 00:18:48.080 --> 00:18:49.140 They couldn't deny that. 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:55.540 So miracles were not common, but certainly possible. 00:18:56.660 --> 00:19:02.560 But what wasn't possible was for any man, and no prophet had ever even come close to, 00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:07.259 what Jesus said, son, your sins are forgiven. 00:19:12.599 --> 00:19:15.460 But Jesus claims authority for both. 00:19:17.299 --> 00:19:20.700 And he immediately heals the man physically, 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:27.039 as evidence of the unseen spiritual healing that's just happened on the inside. 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:33.139 And without fuss, almost an anticlimax to the story, 00:19:33.299 --> 00:19:37.220 without fuss, this man, having been paralyzed for years, 00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:42.319 gets to his feet, full mobility, full muscle tone and strength, 00:19:43.779 --> 00:19:44.879 and takes off home. 00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:45.759 Disappears. 00:19:48.599 --> 00:19:50.799 As if he'd been walking for the whole of his life. 00:19:53.879 --> 00:19:56.899 But the focus, therefore, because of the way the story is structured, 00:19:56.900 --> 00:20:00.000 the focus remains squarely on the scribes. 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:03.340 This man just exited, staged, left, wherever that side is. 00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:06.840 And the focus stays on the scribes. 00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:11.100 And their spiritual paralysis. 00:20:15.080 --> 00:20:16.780 What do I mean by spiritual paralysis? 00:20:17.280 --> 00:20:22.019 These guys were soaked in the study of God's word. 00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:28.400 And yet, they were paralyzed in the way they had understood God's word. 00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:31.980 So they couldn't see what was in front of their face. 00:20:32.059 --> 00:20:35.139 They couldn't see that which should have been so obvious to them. 00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:41.279 That Jesus was presenting precisely with the characteristics and circumstance and context 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:43.740 that the scriptures, especially Isaiah said, 00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:45.940 would mark the coming of Messiah. 00:20:45.940 --> 00:20:48.620 God's savior and king. 00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:50.559 And they couldn't see it. 00:20:50.600 --> 00:20:51.539 Or they wouldn't see it. 00:20:51.580 --> 00:20:55.120 Because it didn't quite fit with what they expected God to do. 00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:56.940 Or what they thought God should do. 00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:02.120 Isaiah 43, verse 25. 00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:04.440 And it mixed in among the servant songs back in Isaiah. 00:21:04.860 --> 00:21:07.660 It was very clear that Messiah would come. 00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:08.600 And this would mark him. 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:11.080 Teaching, proclaiming, and healing. 00:21:11.079 --> 00:21:13.179 And forgiving of sins. 00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:20.359 Now these guys were so badly, totally paralyzed spiritually. 00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:23.059 Such a deep level. 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:26.619 And they were probably, no doubt, also fearful. 00:21:27.339 --> 00:21:30.039 Part of their outrage at Jesus was a fear response. 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:33.339 Jesus is going to undermine God's purposes. 00:21:33.579 --> 00:21:35.339 Jesus is at odds with God's purposes. 00:21:35.579 --> 00:21:36.539 We've got to stop him. 00:21:36.599 --> 00:21:37.659 We've got to protect God. 00:21:37.659 --> 00:21:37.720 God. 00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:49.980 There's no doubt these guys had ample evidence that Jesus is God. 00:21:52.679 --> 00:21:56.039 But would that change their thinking? 00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:59.319 Would that change their attitudes? 00:21:59.500 --> 00:22:02.980 Would they change their thinking and attitudes based on the evidence before them? 00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:05.799 Would they come to a proper fear of God? 00:22:07.919 --> 00:22:09.559 Based on what they can see. 00:22:09.559 --> 00:22:11.960 And what Jesus is teaching. 00:22:13.639 --> 00:22:17.339 Would they come to a proper fear of God in obedience and worship? 00:22:18.879 --> 00:22:28.139 Or, like the Gadarenes, would they dismiss Jesus based on their own understanding of what he should be? 00:22:28.940 --> 00:22:30.339 Or what he might be? 00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:35.700 Or that he was undermining or threatening God's salvation process? 00:22:37.099 --> 00:22:38.000 See the difference again? 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:41.059 Good fear will draw them into Jesus. 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:44.579 Like the five blokes just before them. 00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:50.640 Bad fear will keep you from seeing the blessings of Jesus or push you away from Jesus. 00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:59.140 And the final part of the story has the crowd coming to Jesus in fear and worship. 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:04.500 And I use the word fear there because marveling just doesn't cut it. 00:23:04.560 --> 00:23:06.020 The word is a very strong word. 00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:08.780 And it actually does have fear built into it. 00:23:09.840 --> 00:23:13.080 And in a sense, all worship should have some degree of fear. 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:15.020 Not a paralyzing, debilitating fear. 00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:17.160 But a caution, an awesomeness. 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:21.379 A sense of division and difference. 00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:23.359 God being up here and us being down here. 00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:29.639 And it seems like, therefore, verse 8 is a really hard verse to understand. 00:23:31.019 --> 00:23:34.419 And all the staff and all the elders have spent some time trying to help me on this one. 00:23:34.919 --> 00:23:37.099 But I take responsibility for what's said here. 00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:39.819 It's a hard verse to understand. 00:23:40.139 --> 00:23:41.079 And I think it's this. 00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:47.799 It seems like the crowd have accepted Jesus as a son of man type figure. 00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:50.359 That is a son of man type figure. 00:23:51.439 --> 00:23:54.799 And by that I mean that they recognized he was a special servant of God. 00:23:54.859 --> 00:23:56.339 Remember Nicodemus recognized that? 00:23:56.459 --> 00:23:59.399 Yes, I know you're a special servant sent from God. 00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:04.779 It's in the character, it's in the category of a John the Baptist and Elijah or one of the prophets. 00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:12.740 It's highly unlikely they're seeing him as he described himself in this instance as the son of man. 00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:15.500 I.e. Messiah, God's king and savior. 00:24:17.940 --> 00:24:19.740 So I would say this. 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:22.819 That when the crowds come to Jesus in fear and worship. 00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:27.899 Then their sense of awe and respect for Jesus is genuine. 00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:33.720 But really, really limited and short sighted. 00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:41.940 Severely limited by their understanding of Jesus as not much more than a miracle worker. 00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:45.299 A gifted servant of God among them. 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.579 So there you have it. 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.240 The story. 00:24:51.339 --> 00:24:51.680 Three. 00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:55.779 Lots of people come confronted by Jesus. 00:24:57.420 --> 00:24:57.940 Responses. 00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:59.180 Fear responses. 00:24:59.180 --> 00:25:02.299 It's an amazing story. 00:25:02.840 --> 00:25:05.539 And it's captured in such a challenging way by Matthew. 00:25:06.400 --> 00:25:13.700 And it's more confirmation of the power, authority and priority of Jesus in his mission as God's king and savior. 00:25:13.700 --> 00:25:21.120 So just in the time left me, I just want to wrap up with two or three sort of applicatory points. 00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:30.840 And the first one is this, that Jesus, we need to see Jesus as the ultimate evidence and the ultimate experience of God. 00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:38.480 You remember back on the lake, and I'm linking these three miracles together again. 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:42.759 The disciples said, what sort of man is this? 00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:59.960 Well, the answer with an absolute mountain of evidence in these three miracles is that Jesus is the God man that Matthew has introduced to us right back in chapter one of his record. 00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:03.400 Jesus is Emmanuel. 00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:03.519 Emmanuel. 00:26:05.120 --> 00:26:11.480 God came into the world to rule and save his people from their sin. 00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:12.720 Why would you call him Jesus? 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:15.759 Because he will save his people from their sin. 00:26:19.360 --> 00:26:22.220 So the evidence is there in great mountains. 00:26:22.519 --> 00:26:26.640 But I know that evidence doesn't really cut it for people today. 00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:31.120 People don't really care whether something's true. 00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:33.439 They want to know the experience. 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:34.119 Does it work? 00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:34.779 Is it real? 00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:44.939 And I would say to you this morning, if that's you in that category, that Jesus is the greatest experience of God. 00:26:52.919 --> 00:26:54.259 And it works like this. 00:26:54.259 --> 00:27:00.099 It begins when Jesus confronts you or you're confronted by Jesus. 00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:08.920 That confrontation begins with a deep fear of rejection because of sin. 00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:11.740 And rightly so. 00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:19.539 But it moves through to undeserved forgiveness. 00:27:21.579 --> 00:27:25.740 And forgiveness can only be appreciated when you recognize it's undeserved. 00:27:26.140 --> 00:27:30.720 And that can only be appreciated when you recognize that you deserve God's judgment. 00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:34.579 And you ought to be fearful before the great king and the holy God. 00:27:34.579 --> 00:27:41.159 And then you realize that forgiveness is driven by Jesus' love. 00:27:41.699 --> 00:27:43.500 By his identification with sinners. 00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:45.460 He's the son of man. 00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:47.419 That's an identification with sinners. 00:27:47.740 --> 00:27:50.379 He's come back home, verse 1, to his own city. 00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:56.039 Now Capernaum was in that area where the Orthodox Jews just thought it was a disgusting place. 00:27:56.439 --> 00:27:58.159 It was a place where Gentiles were. 00:27:58.199 --> 00:27:58.679 It was dirty. 00:27:58.859 --> 00:28:02.240 It was just nowhere you'd want to be if you were a self-respecting Jew. 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:04.259 And Jesus identifies with it. 00:28:04.660 --> 00:28:05.539 The place of sin. 00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:07.539 The place of helplessness. 00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:08.700 Lostness. 00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:09.819 Chaos. 00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:18.759 And so that forgiveness, that undeserved forgiveness is driven by Jesus' love and identification with sinners. 00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:22.160 And it ends in a new relationship with God. 00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:25.160 My son, your sins are forgiven. 00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:29.339 Which is a proper fear of God. 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:30.480 An awe of God. 00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:32.000 A worship fear. 00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:33.240 A worship fear. 00:28:33.240 --> 00:28:34.240 A worship fear. 00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:35.240 A worship fear. 00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:36.240 A worship fear. 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:37.240 A worship fear. 00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:38.240 A worship fear. 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:44.500 So when confronted by Jesus, a response of fear is totally appropriate. 00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:51.859 But not paralyzing hopeless fear. 00:28:51.859 --> 00:29:07.959 Rather, a proper awe based on the evidence which draws us to Jesus with confidence that he is able to, that he delights to, give us forgiveness. 00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:08.960 To give us a fresh start. 00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:09.960 To give us a fresh start. 00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:13.620 Just like this paralyzed man had a fresh start in life. 00:29:19.960 --> 00:29:21.620 So come to Jesus. 00:29:21.619 --> 00:29:23.619 Come with all your fear of rejection. 00:29:23.619 --> 00:29:24.619 Come with all your fear of rejection. 00:29:24.619 --> 00:29:29.359 And you'll know the sweetness of forgiveness even more. 00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:43.379 But let's not forget the fear which would have gripped Jesus when he said, your sins are forgiven. 00:29:43.380 --> 00:29:49.520 This is one of the most helpful points come out of this discussion with the elders the other night. 00:29:49.520 --> 00:29:50.760 I wouldn't have got this. 00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:52.740 One of the elders brought it to my attention. 00:29:53.860 --> 00:29:58.840 Just imagine the fear that would have gripped Jesus when he said to this paralyzed man, your sins are forgiven. 00:29:58.839 --> 00:30:04.659 You see, the scribes had it right about Jesus. 00:30:05.299 --> 00:30:06.439 About the man, sorry, first. 00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:08.179 The scribes had it right about this man. 00:30:09.439 --> 00:30:11.279 He was under God's curse. 00:30:12.579 --> 00:30:16.839 And he didn't deserve kindness or deliverance. 00:30:19.059 --> 00:30:19.980 They had it right. 00:30:20.119 --> 00:30:23.480 Sin is a serious matter before a holy God. 00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:25.240 It simply can't be overlooked. 00:30:25.240 --> 00:30:30.359 And the scribes were right about Jesus. 00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:31.640 Except they didn't know it. 00:30:32.620 --> 00:30:34.079 The scribes were right about Jesus. 00:30:35.380 --> 00:30:39.220 For granting forgiveness to this man, he did deserve to die. 00:30:40.380 --> 00:30:41.579 But not for his sin. 00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:44.839 For the sin of this man that he's just granted forgiveness to. 00:30:49.120 --> 00:30:51.519 So imagine the fear in the pit of Jesus' stomach. 00:30:52.660 --> 00:30:54.819 Every time I heal one of these people. 00:30:55.240 --> 00:30:56.960 Every time I forgive their sins. 00:30:57.599 --> 00:31:02.680 That's a sin that I have committed to pain with my death on the cross. 00:31:03.440 --> 00:31:04.539 At a future point. 00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:12.740 Forgiveness came easy to this paralyzed man. 00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:18.420 But it was a hard fought task for Jesus behind the scenes. 00:31:18.420 --> 00:31:27.720 Each one of these people that Jesus had come to rescue as king and savior. 00:31:28.820 --> 00:31:31.519 Was going to cost him pain on the cross. 00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:34.000 Separation from his father. 00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:38.160 Deep, deep fear. 00:31:38.160 --> 00:31:44.040 And it was out of a proper fear or respect for his father's will. 00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:46.080 That Jesus dispensed forgiveness. 00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:48.500 Knowing it would cost him his life. 00:31:50.140 --> 00:31:52.019 And that fear was a proper fear. 00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:54.300 That drew Jesus to his father. 00:31:54.800 --> 00:31:56.279 In utter dependence. 00:31:57.620 --> 00:31:58.380 Outer commitment. 00:31:58.960 --> 00:31:59.660 Outer loyalty. 00:32:00.560 --> 00:32:01.620 Outer trust. 00:32:01.619 --> 00:32:07.279 For the task which lay ahead of him. 00:32:09.039 --> 00:32:10.619 My friends, I finish now by saying. 00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:15.579 Jesus called you to repent of wrong fear. 00:32:16.439 --> 00:32:19.519 And cultivate true or proper fear. 00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:24.460 So I end where I began. 00:32:26.240 --> 00:32:28.660 Thinking about the fears which grip us. 00:32:31.400 --> 00:32:32.859 And drive our actions. 00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:34.420 And shape our thinking. 00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:39.599 How much of your fear do you think is bad fear? 00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:42.639 Unhelpful. 00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:44.039 Debilitating. 00:32:45.220 --> 00:32:48.240 As you try to wrestle with the various circumstances of your week. 00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:51.619 And how much is good fear? 00:32:52.940 --> 00:32:54.139 Based on evidence. 00:32:54.920 --> 00:32:57.059 And moving us towards Jesus. 00:32:58.440 --> 00:32:59.519 Towards truth. 00:33:00.039 --> 00:33:00.660 And security. 00:33:00.920 --> 00:33:01.559 With confidence. 00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:06.660 So many it would seem. 00:33:06.940 --> 00:33:08.940 Including some in our church family. 00:33:09.099 --> 00:33:09.339 Have a. 00:33:09.559 --> 00:33:10.980 What I would call an unhealthy. 00:33:12.220 --> 00:33:13.579 Debilitating fear of COVID. 00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:18.799 Or likewise of the government's intention. 00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:20.099 In response to COVID. 00:33:23.099 --> 00:33:24.919 And that fear may be understandable. 00:33:25.159 --> 00:33:26.879 But I want to bow out and say. 00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:29.039 Well is there a similar fear of the Lord? 00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:30.460 Not a debilitating fear. 00:33:30.559 --> 00:33:32.220 But is there a focus. 00:33:32.839 --> 00:33:34.139 On in confidence. 00:33:34.579 --> 00:33:35.220 And security. 00:33:35.899 --> 00:33:37.319 In the Lord of the pandemic. 00:33:38.659 --> 00:33:40.379 In the God who appoints governments. 00:33:40.379 --> 00:33:41.099 To their places. 00:33:41.319 --> 00:33:42.119 And knocks them down. 00:33:42.200 --> 00:33:43.460 Whenever they don't do. 00:33:43.539 --> 00:33:44.359 What he wants them to do. 00:33:45.779 --> 00:33:46.440 Do you see. 00:33:46.639 --> 00:33:48.019 Do you see how that needs to be balanced? 00:33:49.019 --> 00:33:49.759 Good fear. 00:33:49.839 --> 00:33:51.220 Will allow us to operate well. 00:33:51.660 --> 00:33:52.599 Draw us to Jesus. 00:33:52.980 --> 00:33:53.819 Draw us to the Lord God. 00:33:53.879 --> 00:33:54.599 In his sovereignty. 00:33:55.680 --> 00:33:57.440 No matter what seems to be happening. 00:33:57.539 --> 00:33:58.220 Here around us. 00:33:58.839 --> 00:33:59.500 Good fear. 00:33:59.680 --> 00:34:00.359 Will help us. 00:34:00.440 --> 00:34:02.200 See past our circumstances. 00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:05.279 To the Lord of our circumstances. 00:34:08.219 --> 00:34:09.300 Do you need to repent. 00:34:09.300 --> 00:34:10.320 Of some of those things. 00:34:10.320 --> 00:34:16.660 Sometimes we fear. 00:34:16.760 --> 00:34:17.460 Coming to Jesus. 00:34:17.780 --> 00:34:19.080 Will mean missing out. 00:34:19.160 --> 00:34:20.120 On our greatest needs. 00:34:24.120 --> 00:34:25.280 And our problem there. 00:34:25.380 --> 00:34:26.780 Is that we define our greatest needs. 00:34:26.780 --> 00:34:27.960 As health. 00:34:29.740 --> 00:34:30.260 Wealth. 00:34:31.320 --> 00:34:32.019 Good career. 00:34:33.080 --> 00:34:34.100 A big nest egg. 00:34:34.240 --> 00:34:35.000 For retirement. 00:34:36.320 --> 00:34:36.800 Friends. 00:34:36.800 --> 00:34:38.080 Stable family. 00:34:38.539 --> 00:34:39.340 Well behaved children. 00:34:40.019 --> 00:34:41.360 And so the list goes on and on and on. 00:34:42.560 --> 00:34:44.300 And so we're driven by fear. 00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:46.940 As some of those things. 00:34:48.460 --> 00:34:49.840 Become elusive to us. 00:34:50.300 --> 00:34:51.880 Or go completely opposite. 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:52.580 Of what we want. 00:34:53.340 --> 00:34:53.960 Or need. 00:34:54.539 --> 00:34:56.660 Because we've made them so essential to life. 00:34:59.140 --> 00:35:00.840 None of these things are bad in themselves. 00:35:00.840 --> 00:35:04.980 But when they come from fears which drive us. 00:35:05.500 --> 00:35:08.620 We're in great danger of missing our true needs. 00:35:09.019 --> 00:35:10.740 And true blessings in Christ. 00:35:15.420 --> 00:35:16.440 Forgiveness of sin. 00:35:16.900 --> 00:35:18.260 And new relationship with God. 00:35:20.220 --> 00:35:20.980 So my friends. 00:35:21.039 --> 00:35:21.940 I'll just finish up with this. 00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:24.100 If you've not yet come to Jesus. 00:35:24.180 --> 00:35:25.680 And there may be somebody here on Zoom. 00:35:25.860 --> 00:35:27.900 Or here even in the room this morning. 00:35:28.620 --> 00:35:29.920 If you've not yet come to Jesus. 00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:31.380 The evidence is clear. 00:35:31.480 --> 00:35:32.380 The evidence is clear. 00:35:32.800 --> 00:35:35.099 He is a trustworthy king and saviour. 00:35:35.820 --> 00:35:37.019 He is compassionate. 00:35:38.639 --> 00:35:39.539 In his demands. 00:35:39.619 --> 00:35:40.280 He is demanding. 00:35:40.639 --> 00:35:42.460 But he's compassionate and loving. 00:35:42.460 --> 00:35:43.340 In his demands. 00:35:43.900 --> 00:35:44.840 Always committed. 00:35:45.380 --> 00:35:46.500 To working for your good. 00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:48.680 There's nothing to fear in that. 00:35:49.480 --> 00:35:50.280 Come to Jesus. 00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:56.300 Come to Jesus for the ultimate experience of relationship. 00:35:56.619 --> 00:35:58.360 Which is the thing you're craving for. 00:35:58.420 --> 00:35:59.460 In the depth of your soul. 00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:00.599 Love. 00:36:00.599 --> 00:36:00.619 Pure love. 00:36:00.619 --> 00:36:01.539 Pure love. 00:36:01.539 --> 00:36:01.840 Pure love. 00:36:02.440 --> 00:36:03.840 And complete acceptance. 00:36:07.559 --> 00:36:08.900 So this morning. 00:36:09.000 --> 00:36:11.760 Why not ask Jesus for a fresh start. 00:36:12.840 --> 00:36:13.760 Forgiveness. 00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:15.639 Acceptance. 00:36:16.480 --> 00:36:17.519 The good life in Jesus. 00:36:17.519 --> 00:36:18.519 Ask him. 00:36:18.519 --> 00:36:19.440 Ask him. 00:36:19.440 --> 00:36:19.460 Ask him. 00:36:19.460 --> 00:36:19.480 Ask him. 00:36:20.219 --> 00:36:20.980 To speak. 00:36:20.980 --> 00:36:23.219 Speak into your deepest fears. 00:36:25.159 --> 00:36:26.119 Come to him. 00:36:26.280 --> 00:36:27.320 In your deepest fears. 00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:28.920 And trust him. 00:36:29.039 --> 00:36:30.920 To speak into those fears. 00:36:31.800 --> 00:36:33.039 And expose them. 00:36:34.039 --> 00:36:35.139 And dispel them. 00:36:35.579 --> 00:36:36.759 With that same word. 00:36:37.579 --> 00:36:38.119 My son. 00:36:38.280 --> 00:36:38.739 My daughter. 00:36:39.239 --> 00:36:40.119 Your sins are forgiven. 00:36:40.119 --> 00:36:42.440 Just pray with me. 00:36:46.539 --> 00:36:46.940 Lord. 00:36:47.019 --> 00:36:47.299 What a. 00:36:47.759 --> 00:36:48.739 What an amazing. 00:36:49.339 --> 00:36:50.380 Part of scripture. 00:36:50.380 --> 00:36:50.740 Lord. 00:36:50.740 --> 00:36:52.840 It's probably a bit silly to say that. 00:36:52.880 --> 00:36:53.900 Because every part's amazing. 00:36:54.640 --> 00:36:54.900 But Lord. 00:36:54.960 --> 00:36:55.720 Just that phrase. 00:36:55.860 --> 00:36:56.400 Take heart. 00:36:56.500 --> 00:36:56.900 My son. 00:36:56.960 --> 00:36:57.880 Your sins are forgiven. 00:36:58.039 --> 00:36:58.320 So. 00:36:59.000 --> 00:37:00.200 Laden with love. 00:37:00.440 --> 00:37:01.140 And warmth. 00:37:02.099 --> 00:37:02.900 So poignant. 00:37:03.799 --> 00:37:05.259 So full of pathos. 00:37:05.359 --> 00:37:05.519 Lord. 00:37:07.219 --> 00:37:08.359 I pray that we might. 00:37:08.599 --> 00:37:10.539 Not fear to come to you. 00:37:11.279 --> 00:37:12.179 Knowing our. 00:37:12.980 --> 00:37:13.920 Spiritual paralysis. 00:37:14.219 --> 00:37:14.739 Knowing our. 00:37:15.359 --> 00:37:16.559 Spiritual helplessness. 00:37:17.960 --> 00:37:18.719 Come to you. 00:37:18.819 --> 00:37:19.259 Confident. 00:37:19.379 --> 00:37:19.539 Lord. 00:37:19.599 --> 00:37:21.619 You will speak into those deepest fears. 00:37:21.960 --> 00:37:24.000 You'll help us see that things are even worse. 00:37:24.500 --> 00:37:26.900 Than perhaps we first realize as we come to you. 00:37:27.719 --> 00:37:28.980 But with that same word. 00:37:29.039 --> 00:37:29.179 Lord. 00:37:29.239 --> 00:37:30.440 You will dispel those fears. 00:37:31.480 --> 00:37:32.719 And open us up. 00:37:33.000 --> 00:37:34.039 New good life. 00:37:34.339 --> 00:37:34.739 Before us. 00:37:34.980 --> 00:37:35.559 So I pray Lord. 00:37:35.619 --> 00:37:37.279 You might help us to hear your word this morning. 00:37:37.359 --> 00:37:37.940 And act on it. 00:37:38.940 --> 00:37:39.839 In Jesus name. 00:37:40.379 --> 00:37:40.679 Amen.