WEBVTT

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 I wonder what your memories are of that day ten years ago.

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 Let me share one person's memories.

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! I was unable to take my usual route because of the signal failure on the Northern Line.

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!

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 I've always hated circle line trains, but I remember rushing down the escalator at Moorgate just as one pulled in and thinking, what a result!

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 I jumped on the first carriage I got to.

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 I opened my newspaper and was just reading about the Olympics thinking, I've got to get tickets for this.

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 Just as the bomb went off.

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 Those are the memories of Martine Wright, published last week in The Observer.

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 Later in hospital, she had both her legs amputated as a result of that explosion.

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 I'm sure we've all read or heard stories like that in the last few days.

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 Maybe we know friends who were personally affected by the events of that day.

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 A friend of mine was one of the first ambulance drivers on the scene at King's Cross.

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 We still weren't entirely sure what had happened.

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 It was a day of suffering that changed the lives of many people, wasn't it?

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 And in such a sharp contrast, the previous day.

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 The previous day was such a day of joy for the city.

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 It was the day, the 6th of July, when London was awarded the 2012 Olympics.

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 Yet so quickly joy turned to grief as those bombs hit.

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 And when people suffer pain such as that, it raises so many questions, doesn't it?

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 Martine Wright said that when she was in hospital, she thought,

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 Why me?

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 Why am I one of the worst injured?

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 Why have I lost both my legs above the knee?

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 The why question was a big thing for me in the first year, she said.

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 And as well as the why question, there's also the where question that people ask, isn't there?

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 Why did this happen and where is God in the midst of it?

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 If God is supposed to be all-powerful and good, then where is he when tragedy strikes?

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 It's not just the July 7th bombings that raise that for us, is it?

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 Just a couple of weeks ago, we had that massacre on the beach in Tunisia.

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 Just in the last two weeks, we had a tragedy of the double suicide at Ealing Broadway.

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 And no doubt in our own lives, we all have personal experiences of hurt, suffering, injustice.

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 So the question comes, doesn't it, if God is so good,

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 if God is all-powerful as Christianity teaches,

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 then where is God when it hurts?

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 Why is there so much evil in the world?

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 Of course, that is a deeply personal question, can be a deeply personal question.

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 In a forum like this, it's hard to address it personally.

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 So we have to look a little bit at the philosophical side of that question, if you like.

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 But it's in no means to denigrate the importance of that personal question.

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 As I said earlier, I'd love to talk to you further, if you're willing,

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 if you'd like to see that more.

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 But I want us to notice that this is only a question for Christianity.

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 It's only a question for Christianity.

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 No other religion will tell you that God is good and all-powerful.

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 It's not a question for atheism.

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 For atheism, everything is just chance.

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 So when cancer strikes or the bomb goes off,

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 everything is just dancing to the tune of its DNA,

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 to borrow a phrase from Richard Dawkins.

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 Neither is it a question for Hinduism,

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 where everything that happens is just a result of karma.

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 What goes around comes around.

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 We get what we deserve.

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 Nor is it a question for Buddhism,

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 which essentially doesn't have a God.

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 It believes that suffering is a kind of illusion generated by our desires.

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 It's not really a problem for Islam in the same way either,

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 where Allah's will is just by definition good and to be submitted to.

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 So it's only Christianity,

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 with its insistence on a personal, powerful, loving God,

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 that really has to face up to this question.

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 And for some people, events like 7-7 show that

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 if there is a God, he doesn't care.

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 If he did, surely he'd put an end to the pain.

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 For others, events like 7-7 are proof that God is not powerful.

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 Or the idea of God, or God that he exists,

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 may provide some comfort,

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 but clearly has no power to stop evil things happening.

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 And for others, pain and suffering just destroy any sort of belief in God.

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 On Sunday night, the BBC had a drama called A Song for Jenny,

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 which is adapted from a book by Julie Nicholson.

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 Julie was a Church of England vicar in Bristol

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 when her 24-year-old daughter Jenny

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 was killed on the bomb on the Edgware Road train.

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 In the TV programme, she says at one point,

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 I can't believe in anything anymore.

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 I can't believe in anything anymore.

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 And certainly in real life,

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 Julie Nicholson resigned her place as an Anglican clergyman.

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 She left her parish.

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 She felt unable to forgive.

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 And I'm sure we can all understand that.

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 It must be hard to forgive someone

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 who'd blown your daughter apart.

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 Now this is a big question.

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 Big questions can't be answered simply in 15 minutes.

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 But what I want to do is focus on one little event

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 in the life of Jesus of Nazareth,

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 which I hope will give us a way of thinking

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 about this question.

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 Where is God when it hurts?

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 There's this event which I just read,

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 which is on the paper in front of you.

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 This record is written for us by a guy called Luke.

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 Luke, at the start of his account of Jesus' life,

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 tells us he went back to eyewitnesses to write it,

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 so that the reader could be sure of the certainty

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 concerning the things he'd been taught.

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 And in the first 22 chapters of this book,

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 Luke has produced plenty of evidence

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 to back up Christianity's claim

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 that Jesus is God on earth.

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 that Jesus was God in human form.

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 And three times at least by this stage,

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 Jesus had told his disciples

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 that he had come to go to Jerusalem

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 to suffer, to die, and to rise again.

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 Now we reach the climax of that story.

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 Jesus has been betrayed as predicted,

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 been tried in a sham trial.

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 The official verdict of the Romans

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 was that he's done nothing to deserve death,

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 but he's given to be killed anyway.

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 You see, the crowd, whipped up by the religious leaders,

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 demand Jesus should be crucified.

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 Modern commentators would say

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 that these are religious fundamentalists

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 who whip up crowds to join their extremism.

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 Well, let's look at what happens to Jesus

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 as we work through this story.

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 Let me tell you three things about Jesus, first of all.

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 The first one's obvious, isn't it?

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 He suffers injustice himself.

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 Look at verse 32.

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 Two others who were criminals

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 were led away to be put to death with him.

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 He suffered injustice.

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 Ten years ago today,

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 many people suffered a grave injustice, didn't they?

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 In trying to get to work,

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 their lives were destroyed,

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 either completely in death

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 or changed forever

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 by the injuries and psychological scars.

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 But this Jesus,

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 who'd been declared innocent,

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 suffered injustice,

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 killed with criminals.

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 The second thing you've noticed,

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 although the Bible doesn't make much of it,

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 is that he suffered terrible pain.

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 Look at the next verse,

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 verse 33.

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 Second line down.

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 When they came to the place called the skull,

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 there they crucified him

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 and the criminals.

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 Crucifixion was one of the worst forms of execution ever invented.

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 Under Roman law,

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 Roman citizens couldn't be crucified.

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 It was kept for the lowest of the low.

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 Escaped slaves and such like.

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 Ultimately,

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 what killed the victims in crucifixion

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 was actually asphyxiation.

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 They would suffocate

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 because every time they tried to breathe,

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 they'd have to pull themselves up

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 with the nails through their wrists,

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 push down with the nails through their feet,

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 and dislocate their shoulders

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 to be able to breathe.

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 Jesus suffered injustice.

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 Jesus suffered terrible physical pain.

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 Never mind the emotional and spiritual pain

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 which he also suffered.

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 The third thing to notice is

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 look how Jesus responds.

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 Look at verse 34.

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 Jesus said,

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 Father, forgive them,

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 that is the Roman soldiers,

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 for they know not what they do.

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 See, Jesus forgives those

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 who nail him to the cross.

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 Forgiveness is absolutely central

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 to what Jesus came to do.

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 It's absolutely central

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 to Christian teaching.

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 It's one reason

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 that Julie Nicholson felt

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 she had to leave her place

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 as an Anglican vicar.

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 She didn't feel she could forgive.

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 And yet,

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 history is littered with examples

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 of Christians

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 who,

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 having experienced

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 God's forgiveness themselves,

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 with Christ's help,

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 are able to follow Jesus' footsteps

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 and forgive those

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 who've hurt them.

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 We saw that just a few weeks ago,

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 didn't we,

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 with the shooting in Charleston.

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 Many of the families

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 forgave Dylan Roof,

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 the alleged killer.

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 For example,

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 Martine Collier,

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 whose 70-year-old mother,

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 Ethel Lance,

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 was shot dead

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 by the killer,

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 said to him in court

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 over a satellite link,

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 I forgive you.

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 You took something

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 very precious for me.

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 I will never talk to her again.

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 I will never hold her again.

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 But I forgive you.

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 An extraordinary act

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 that is not humanly possible,

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 is it?

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 And yet,

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 this woman

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 who experienced

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 God's forgiveness

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 offers that forgiveness

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 to others,

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 just as Jesus did

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 on the cross.

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 So,

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 looking at what Jesus

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 experienced,

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 what can we say?

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 Can we say

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 God doesn't care

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 about human suffering?

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 Surely,

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 we can't say that.

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 Jesus repeatedly said

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 he'd come to suffer.

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 He'd come to die.

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 Jesus suffered

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 with us,

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 suffered for us,

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 as we'll see later.

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 Can we say

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 God doesn't understand

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 our suffering?

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 I don't think

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 we can say that,

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 can we?

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 If Jesus Christ

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 really is

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 God on earth,

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 and he experienced

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 suffering

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 firsthand,

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 firsthand.

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 Not just as something

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 he knew about

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 because he knows everything,

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 but something he experienced

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 in his own flesh.

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 Well,

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 having looked at what

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 happened to Jesus,

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 let's look at how people

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 react to Jesus.

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 We see three different

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 responses here.

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 First,

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 we get the religious leaders

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 in verse 35.

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 In their pride,

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 they scoff.

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 People stood by,

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 watching,

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 but the rulers

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 scoffed at him,

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 saying,

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 he saved others,

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 let him save himself

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 if he is the Christ of God,

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 his chosen one.

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 See,

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 they thought they knew

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 everything.

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 They thought they were

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 in the right.

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 They thought it was up

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 to Jesus to demonstrate

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 that he was God

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 by doing something

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 miraculous,

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 getting himself

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 off the cross.

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 Little did they

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 understand that Jesus

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 stayed on the cross

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 to save others,

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 not himself.

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 Well,

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 as the proud

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 scoffers

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 but secondly,

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 we see the cynical

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 criminal.

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 Look at verse 39.

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 One of the criminals

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 who were hanged

00:11:16.259 --> 00:11:17.340
 railed at him,

00:11:17.460 --> 00:11:17.720
 saying,

00:11:18.279 --> 00:11:19.279
 are you not the Christ?

00:11:19.639 --> 00:11:20.460
 Save yourself

00:11:20.460 --> 00:11:21.220
 and us.

00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:23.699
 It's deeply cynical,

00:11:23.819 --> 00:11:24.240
 isn't it?

00:11:24.860 --> 00:11:25.899
 Here's a man who

00:11:25.899 --> 00:11:27.279
 presumably has ignored

00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:28.360
 God all his life,

00:11:29.059 --> 00:11:29.899
 brought up in Israel,

00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:31.539
 probably taught

00:11:31.539 --> 00:11:33.399
 the Jewish faith

00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:33.980
 from birth,

00:11:34.460 --> 00:11:35.519
 yet rejects God,

00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:36.319
 gets into a life

00:11:36.319 --> 00:11:36.860
 of crime,

00:11:37.500 --> 00:11:38.220
 gets the punishment

00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:38.860
 he deserves.

00:11:39.160 --> 00:11:39.840
 And it's only at that

00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:40.279
 point he says,

00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:40.700
 well, come on,

00:11:40.740 --> 00:11:40.980
 Jesus,

00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:42.120
 if you're God,

00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:42.720
 save me.

00:11:43.940 --> 00:11:44.920
 It's deeply cynical.

00:11:46.560 --> 00:11:47.420
 He wants Jesus

00:11:47.420 --> 00:11:48.160
 to be good to him,

00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:48.740
 but he doesn't want

00:11:48.740 --> 00:11:49.560
 to take responsibility

00:11:49.560 --> 00:11:50.639
 for his own actions.

00:11:51.500 --> 00:11:52.200
 It's like the cynic

00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:53.500
 today who asks

00:11:53.500 --> 00:11:53.920
 mockingly,

00:11:54.040 --> 00:11:54.879
 where is God

00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:55.899
 when it hurts?

00:11:56.120 --> 00:11:56.759
 Where is God

00:11:56.759 --> 00:11:57.519
 when I need him?

00:11:58.519 --> 00:11:59.560
 Having ignored God

00:11:59.560 --> 00:12:01.120
 studiously all his life.

00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:03.600
 But there's a third

00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:04.160
 response.

00:12:04.159 --> 00:12:05.659
 as well as the

00:12:05.659 --> 00:12:06.539
 proud scoffers,

00:12:07.059 --> 00:12:07.539
 as well as the

00:12:07.539 --> 00:12:08.259
 cynical criminal.

00:12:09.799 --> 00:12:10.480
 They've got the

00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:11.299
 humble criminal.

00:12:12.079 --> 00:12:12.919
 Look at verse 40.

00:12:13.579 --> 00:12:14.980
 The other criminal

00:12:14.980 --> 00:12:16.019
 rebukes him,

00:12:16.100 --> 00:12:16.339
 saying,

00:12:16.919 --> 00:12:18.179
 Do you not fear God,

00:12:18.659 --> 00:12:19.339
 since you're under

00:12:19.339 --> 00:12:20.219
 the same sentence

00:12:20.219 --> 00:12:21.039
 of condemnation?

00:12:21.799 --> 00:12:22.620
 And we indeed

00:12:22.620 --> 00:12:23.159
 justly,

00:12:23.219 --> 00:12:24.179
 for we are receiving

00:12:24.179 --> 00:12:25.620
 the due reward

00:12:25.620 --> 00:12:26.399
 of our deeds.

00:12:27.059 --> 00:12:28.100
 But this man

00:12:28.100 --> 00:12:29.799
 has done nothing wrong.

00:12:29.799 --> 00:12:31.599
 It's an incredible

00:12:31.599 --> 00:12:31.959
 thing,

00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:33.059
 but in his pain,

00:12:33.359 --> 00:12:34.339
 hanging on the cross,

00:12:34.659 --> 00:12:35.240
 this criminal

00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:36.500
 sees three things

00:12:36.500 --> 00:12:37.059
 very clearly.

00:12:38.139 --> 00:12:38.699
 First of all,

00:12:38.740 --> 00:12:39.819
 he sees his own guilt.

00:12:40.679 --> 00:12:41.419
 We are receiving

00:12:41.419 --> 00:12:42.379
 the reward of our

00:12:42.379 --> 00:12:42.799
 deeds,

00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:43.459
 he says.

00:12:44.359 --> 00:12:45.199
 But secondly,

00:12:45.299 --> 00:12:45.959
 he sees Jesus'

00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:46.699
 innocence.

00:12:47.439 --> 00:12:48.059
 Verse 41,

00:12:48.439 --> 00:12:49.419
 This man has done

00:12:49.419 --> 00:12:49.779
 nothing.

00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:52.759
 But most amazingly,

00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:54.919
 he sees through

00:12:54.919 --> 00:12:55.879
 the circumstances

00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:57.579
 and sees something

00:12:57.579 --> 00:12:58.000
 of Jesus'

00:12:58.179 --> 00:12:59.099
 true identity.

00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:01.459
 Look at verse

00:13:01.459 --> 00:13:01.859
 32.

00:13:02.539 --> 00:13:03.659
 He sees Jesus

00:13:03.659 --> 00:13:04.799
 is God's king.

00:13:05.339 --> 00:13:05.620
 He said,

00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:06.000
 Jesus,

00:13:06.419 --> 00:13:07.339
 remember me

00:13:07.339 --> 00:13:08.240
 when you come

00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:08.859
 into your kingdom.

00:13:09.859 --> 00:13:10.459
 Now it's here

00:13:10.459 --> 00:13:10.979
 in that brief

00:13:10.979 --> 00:13:11.779
 interaction between

00:13:11.779 --> 00:13:12.479
 Jesus and the

00:13:12.479 --> 00:13:13.079
 humble criminal

00:13:13.079 --> 00:13:14.240
 that we get a

00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:14.959
 glimpse into the

00:13:14.959 --> 00:13:15.479
 heart of the

00:13:15.479 --> 00:13:16.319
 Christian message

00:13:16.319 --> 00:13:17.379
 and a glimpse

00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:18.579
 into why Christians

00:13:18.579 --> 00:13:20.059
 can keep believing

00:13:20.059 --> 00:13:20.659
 in a good,

00:13:20.959 --> 00:13:21.359
 powerful,

00:13:21.559 --> 00:13:22.419
 personal God

00:13:22.419 --> 00:13:23.419
 in a world

00:13:23.419 --> 00:13:23.759
 where there is

00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:24.439
 so much pain

00:13:24.439 --> 00:13:25.599
 and so much evil.

00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:27.479
 Now why is that?

00:13:27.779 --> 00:13:27.919
 Well,

00:13:28.039 --> 00:13:28.500
 first of all,

00:13:28.539 --> 00:13:29.139
 what is Jesus'

00:13:29.139 --> 00:13:29.479
 kingdom?

00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:31.439
 Jesus'

00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:31.859
 kingdom

00:13:31.859 --> 00:13:33.379
 is the world

00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:34.099
 we all want

00:13:34.099 --> 00:13:34.740
 to live in.

00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:36.819
 Let me unpack

00:13:36.819 --> 00:13:37.359
 that a bit.

00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:38.679
 The Bible begins

00:13:38.679 --> 00:13:39.299
 by telling us

00:13:39.299 --> 00:13:39.779
 that God

00:13:39.779 --> 00:13:40.799
 created the world

00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:42.319
 and that we

00:13:42.319 --> 00:13:43.019
 human beings

00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:43.519
 are made

00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:44.179
 in God's image.

00:13:44.339 --> 00:13:44.959
 That's why

00:13:44.959 --> 00:13:45.599
 we can love

00:13:45.599 --> 00:13:46.019
 others.

00:13:46.339 --> 00:13:46.759
 That's why

00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:47.699
 we have an

00:13:47.699 --> 00:13:48.519
 inbuilt sense

00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:49.519
 of justice

00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:50.379
 and right and wrong.

00:13:50.779 --> 00:13:51.319
 It's why we

00:13:51.319 --> 00:13:52.039
 can work

00:13:52.039 --> 00:13:53.399
 and make

00:13:53.399 --> 00:13:54.240
 great creative

00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:54.779
 things.

00:13:54.779 --> 00:13:57.059
 But instead

00:13:57.059 --> 00:13:57.679
 of the perfect

00:13:57.679 --> 00:13:58.279
 world God

00:13:58.279 --> 00:13:58.860
 made,

00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:00.199
 we now live

00:14:00.199 --> 00:14:00.519
 in a world

00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:00.779
 that is

00:14:00.779 --> 00:14:01.199
 scarred

00:14:01.199 --> 00:14:02.799
 and confused

00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:03.379
 and marked

00:14:03.379 --> 00:14:04.059
 by death,

00:14:04.579 --> 00:14:05.179
 disease,

00:14:05.899 --> 00:14:06.259
 terrorist

00:14:06.259 --> 00:14:06.839
 attacks,

00:14:07.559 --> 00:14:08.059
 injustice,

00:14:08.699 --> 00:14:09.139
 illness.

00:14:10.419 --> 00:14:11.159
 And we feel

00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:11.779
 things are not

00:14:11.779 --> 00:14:12.100
 right,

00:14:12.179 --> 00:14:12.539
 don't we?

00:14:13.500 --> 00:14:14.279
 We feel

00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:14.919
 things are not

00:14:14.919 --> 00:14:15.279
 the way

00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:15.959
 they should be.

00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:17.699
 That's why

00:14:17.699 --> 00:14:18.399
 we cry out

00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:18.879
 why

00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:20.000
 when bombs

00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:20.500
 go off

00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:20.840
 and loved

00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:21.179
 ones are

00:14:21.179 --> 00:14:21.820
 torn apart.

00:14:22.759 --> 00:14:23.360
 So we cry

00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:24.720
 out why

00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:26.039
 when the

00:14:26.039 --> 00:14:26.460
 diagnosis

00:14:26.460 --> 00:14:27.159
 comes through.

00:14:27.820 --> 00:14:28.399
 We know

00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:28.940
 something is

00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:29.299
 wrong.

00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:30.500
 We know

00:14:30.500 --> 00:14:31.139
 deep down

00:14:31.139 --> 00:14:31.519
 the world

00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:32.100
 is not the

00:14:32.100 --> 00:14:32.460
 way it is

00:14:32.460 --> 00:14:32.919
 supposed to

00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:33.159
 be.

00:14:34.700 --> 00:14:35.440
 So what

00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:35.960
 went wrong?

00:14:36.059 --> 00:14:36.539
 Why do we

00:14:36.539 --> 00:14:37.200
 not have the

00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:37.820
 perfect world

00:14:37.820 --> 00:14:38.419
 God made?

00:14:39.159 --> 00:14:39.460
 Well the

00:14:39.460 --> 00:14:40.100
 Bible's answer

00:14:40.100 --> 00:14:40.539
 is that what

00:14:40.539 --> 00:14:40.980
 went wrong

00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:41.620
 is us.

00:14:42.179 --> 00:14:42.700
 We went

00:14:42.700 --> 00:14:42.980
 wrong.

00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:44.379
 As a race

00:14:44.379 --> 00:14:44.879
 we turned

00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:45.500
 against this

00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:46.360
 good God

00:14:46.360 --> 00:14:46.879
 who had

00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:47.259
 given us

00:14:47.259 --> 00:14:47.759
 all we

00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:48.059
 needed.

00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:49.639
 He's the

00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:50.080
 rightful

00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:50.419
 ruler.

00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:50.860
 He's the

00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:51.299
 giver of

00:14:51.299 --> 00:14:51.659
 life.

00:14:52.179 --> 00:14:52.379
 And yet

00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:53.059
 we rejected

00:14:53.059 --> 00:14:54.019
 his rule

00:14:54.019 --> 00:14:54.700
 and went

00:14:54.700 --> 00:14:55.080
 our own

00:14:55.080 --> 00:14:55.399
 way.

00:14:55.980 --> 00:14:56.340
 We do

00:14:56.340 --> 00:14:56.620
 that in

00:14:56.620 --> 00:14:57.019
 all sorts

00:14:57.019 --> 00:14:57.480
 of ways.

00:14:58.399 --> 00:14:58.720
 We do

00:14:58.720 --> 00:14:58.960
 it by

00:14:58.960 --> 00:14:59.419
 ignoring

00:14:59.419 --> 00:14:59.899
 God.

00:15:00.539 --> 00:15:01.080
 We do

00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:01.299
 it by

00:15:01.299 --> 00:15:01.759
 using

00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:02.340
 God.

00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:03.860
 We do

00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:04.100
 it by

00:15:04.100 --> 00:15:04.440
 following

00:15:04.440 --> 00:15:04.820
 our own

00:15:04.820 --> 00:15:05.460
 idea about

00:15:05.460 --> 00:15:05.820
 what God

00:15:05.820 --> 00:15:06.279
 is like.

00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:08.059
 Now how

00:15:08.059 --> 00:15:08.500
 do you feel

00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:08.799
 when people

00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:09.559
 use you

00:15:09.559 --> 00:15:10.620
 or ignore

00:15:10.620 --> 00:15:11.639
 you or

00:15:11.639 --> 00:15:12.039
 just make

00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:12.320
 up their

00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:12.879
 own idea

00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:13.259
 about who

00:15:13.259 --> 00:15:13.679
 the real

00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:14.340
 you is?

00:15:16.360 --> 00:15:16.919
 We don't

00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:17.240
 like it

00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:17.580
 do we?

00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:18.820
 And yet

00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:19.179
 that's how

00:15:19.179 --> 00:15:19.559
 we treat

00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:19.860
 God.

00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:20.080
 And in

00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:20.519
 the process

00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:21.440
 we diminish

00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:22.139
 ourselves,

00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:23.120
 we damage

00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:23.740
 other people

00:15:23.740 --> 00:15:24.639
 and we

00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:25.279
 damage God's

00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:25.600
 world.

00:15:27.220 --> 00:15:27.700
 The just

00:15:27.700 --> 00:15:28.320
 punishment for

00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:29.139
 this, the

00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:29.879
 just punishment

00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:30.500
 from turning

00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:31.080
 from the

00:15:31.080 --> 00:15:31.700
 God who is

00:15:31.700 --> 00:15:32.379
 the giver of

00:15:32.379 --> 00:15:33.960
 life is

00:15:33.960 --> 00:15:34.279
 death.

00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:36.240
 So what's the

00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:36.560
 solution?

00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:38.639
 Well God

00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:39.659
 could destroy

00:15:39.659 --> 00:15:40.539
 any one of us,

00:15:40.539 --> 00:15:41.220
 all of us,

00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:42.060
 whenever he

00:15:42.060 --> 00:15:42.500
 wants.

00:15:43.180 --> 00:15:43.940
 He loves the

00:15:43.940 --> 00:15:44.340
 world he

00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:44.600
 made, he

00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:44.980
 loves the

00:15:44.980 --> 00:15:45.500
 people he

00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:45.800
 made.

00:15:45.799 --> 00:15:46.639
 And so

00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:47.000
 when we

00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:47.679
 hurt other

00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:48.919
 people, he

00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:49.500
 wants justice

00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:49.899
 for those

00:15:49.899 --> 00:15:50.240
 people.

00:15:51.459 --> 00:15:51.759
 And that

00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:52.240
 means we

00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:52.740
 are in the

00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:53.279
 firing line

00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:54.159
 deserving punishment

00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:54.679
 as well.

00:15:56.179 --> 00:15:56.620
 See, God

00:15:56.620 --> 00:15:57.139
 couldn't just

00:15:57.139 --> 00:15:57.679
 ignore the

00:15:57.679 --> 00:15:58.219
 damage we've

00:15:58.219 --> 00:15:59.039
 done because

00:15:59.039 --> 00:15:59.859
 he loves,

00:16:00.299 --> 00:16:00.819
 because he's

00:16:00.819 --> 00:16:01.679
 committed to

00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:02.359
 what he made,

00:16:02.419 --> 00:16:02.779
 to the world

00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:03.339
 he made.

00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:05.199
 God has to

00:16:05.199 --> 00:16:07.039
 punish, and

00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:07.339
 yet God

00:16:07.339 --> 00:16:07.879
 wants to show

00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:08.319
 love.

00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:09.720
 God

00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:10.640
 is to

00:16:10.640 --> 00:16:11.520
 send his

00:16:11.520 --> 00:16:12.100
 own son,

00:16:12.520 --> 00:16:12.760
 Jesus

00:16:12.760 --> 00:16:13.980
 Christ, to

00:16:13.980 --> 00:16:14.400
 live the

00:16:14.400 --> 00:16:15.040
 perfect life

00:16:15.040 --> 00:16:15.420
 we should

00:16:15.420 --> 00:16:15.900
 have lived.

00:16:17.400 --> 00:16:18.200
 Jesus then

00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:18.879
 died the

00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:19.320
 death we

00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:19.640
 should have

00:16:19.640 --> 00:16:20.720
 died, as

00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:21.320
 our substitute

00:16:21.320 --> 00:16:21.879
 in our

00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:22.680
 place, taking

00:16:22.680 --> 00:16:23.400
 our punishment.

00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:24.860
 And God

00:16:24.860 --> 00:16:25.460
 raised him to

00:16:25.460 --> 00:16:26.000
 life again.

00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:27.540
 If you read

00:16:27.540 --> 00:16:27.940
 all in the

00:16:27.940 --> 00:16:28.440
 story, you'll

00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:28.900
 see that's

00:16:28.900 --> 00:16:29.320
 what happens

00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:29.700
 next.

00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:30.320
 On the

00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:30.820
 third day,

00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:31.160
 as he

00:16:31.160 --> 00:16:31.480
 promised,

00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:32.280
 Jesus rose

00:16:32.280 --> 00:16:32.560
 from the

00:16:32.560 --> 00:16:32.820
 dead.

00:16:33.560 --> 00:16:33.880
 And that

00:16:33.880 --> 00:16:34.380
 resurrection

00:16:34.380 --> 00:16:35.360
 demonstrates

00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:36.660
 that Jesus

00:16:36.660 --> 00:16:37.520
 is God's

00:16:37.520 --> 00:16:37.880
 king,

00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:38.980
 and it

00:16:38.980 --> 00:16:39.740
 guarantees

00:16:39.740 --> 00:16:40.840
 that that

00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:41.280
 kingdom is

00:16:41.280 --> 00:16:41.840
 coming one

00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:42.260
 day when

00:16:42.260 --> 00:16:42.860
 Jesus comes

00:16:42.860 --> 00:16:43.300
 back.

00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.200
 That kingdom

00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:44.580
 will be

00:16:44.580 --> 00:16:45.040
 physically

00:16:45.040 --> 00:16:45.740
 established.

00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:46.840
 And in

00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:47.120
 Jesus'

00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:48.920
 kingdom, there

00:16:48.920 --> 00:16:49.620
 will be no

00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:50.220
 more hurt,

00:16:50.640 --> 00:16:51.140
 no more

00:16:51.140 --> 00:16:52.420
 evil, no

00:16:52.420 --> 00:16:53.160
 more fear,

00:16:53.800 --> 00:16:54.180
 no more

00:16:54.180 --> 00:16:55.460
 death, no

00:16:55.460 --> 00:16:56.240
 more illness.

00:16:58.540 --> 00:16:59.180
 Isn't that

00:16:59.180 --> 00:16:59.640
 the world we

00:16:59.640 --> 00:17:00.080
 all want?

00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:02.080
 A world

00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:02.400
 where we're

00:17:02.400 --> 00:17:03.280
 reconnected to

00:17:03.280 --> 00:17:03.820
 the God who

00:17:03.820 --> 00:17:04.340
 made us?

00:17:06.080 --> 00:17:06.480
 Now how

00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:06.860
 do I get

00:17:06.860 --> 00:17:07.220
 there from

00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:07.559
 what we've

00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:07.960
 read here?

00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:09.339
 Well look

00:17:09.339 --> 00:17:09.659
 at verse

00:17:09.659 --> 00:17:10.139
 43.

00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:11.059
 Look what

00:17:11.059 --> 00:17:11.839
 Jesus says.

00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:13.359
 Jesus said

00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:13.720
 to him,

00:17:13.779 --> 00:17:14.220
 this humble

00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:14.659
 criminal,

00:17:15.179 --> 00:17:15.839
 truly I

00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:16.319
 say to

00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:16.539
 you,

00:17:16.879 --> 00:17:17.759
 today you

00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:17.980
 will be

00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:18.439
 with me

00:17:18.439 --> 00:17:19.379
 in paradise.

00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:21.559
 The first

00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:22.240
 installment,

00:17:22.439 --> 00:17:22.859
 if you like,

00:17:22.919 --> 00:17:23.259
 of that

00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:23.559
 kingdom.

00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:25.539
 So this

00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:26.259
 criminal knew

00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:26.720
 he deserved

00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:27.099
 death.

00:17:27.419 --> 00:17:27.720
 He knew

00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:28.500
 Jesus deserved

00:17:28.500 --> 00:17:29.019
 to be king.

00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:29.720
 He knew

00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:30.159
 he had

00:17:30.159 --> 00:17:30.799
 nothing to

00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:31.480
 offer Jesus.

00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:32.899
 But Jesus

00:17:32.899 --> 00:17:33.619
 had everything

00:17:33.619 --> 00:17:34.119
 to offer

00:17:34.119 --> 00:17:34.439
 him.

00:17:35.419 --> 00:17:35.679
 And so

00:17:35.679 --> 00:17:36.460
 Jesus promised

00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:37.059
 him paradise.

00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:37.279
 paradise.

00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:39.579
 Paradise does

00:17:39.579 --> 00:17:40.220
 not come

00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:42.119
 by strapping

00:17:42.119 --> 00:17:42.839
 explosives to

00:17:42.839 --> 00:17:43.359
 yourself and

00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:44.019
 blowing yourself

00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:44.359
 up.

00:17:46.399 --> 00:17:47.279
 It comes

00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:47.919
 through trusting

00:17:47.919 --> 00:17:49.240
 in Jesus

00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:49.659
 forgiveness,

00:17:49.879 --> 00:17:50.539
 seeking Jesus

00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:50.960
 forgiveness.

00:17:52.379 --> 00:17:52.839
 So can you

00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:53.279
 see how this

00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:53.980
 little exchange

00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:54.919
 hints at how

00:17:54.919 --> 00:17:55.579
 Christians can

00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:56.379
 believe in a

00:17:56.379 --> 00:17:57.000
 good God

00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:57.819
 in a messed

00:17:57.819 --> 00:17:58.359
 up world?

00:17:58.359 --> 00:17:58.459
 God?

00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:01.439
 Let me sum

00:18:01.439 --> 00:18:01.740
 it up in

00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:02.119
 three little

00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:02.659
 statements.

00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:04.379
 We cannot

00:18:04.379 --> 00:18:05.740
 say God

00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:06.119
 doesn't

00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:07.399
 understand our

00:18:07.399 --> 00:18:07.799
 suffering.

00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:09.839
 In Jesus,

00:18:10.199 --> 00:18:10.799
 God the

00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:11.359
 Son, God

00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:11.859
 in human

00:18:11.859 --> 00:18:13.319
 flesh, God

00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:14.119
 has first-hand

00:18:14.119 --> 00:18:15.240
 experience of

00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:15.859
 pain and

00:18:15.859 --> 00:18:16.319
 injustice.

00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:17.919
 Furthermore,

00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:18.419
 God the

00:18:18.419 --> 00:18:19.579
 Father gave

00:18:19.579 --> 00:18:20.039
 up his own

00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:20.779
 beloved Son,

00:18:20.899 --> 00:18:22.799
 Jesus, to

00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:23.459
 win people for

00:18:23.459 --> 00:18:23.879
 himself.

00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:25.959
 That must be

00:18:25.959 --> 00:18:26.699
 some comfort for

00:18:26.699 --> 00:18:27.059
 those who've

00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:27.639
 lost children.

00:18:29.079 --> 00:18:29.699
 We cannot

00:18:29.699 --> 00:18:30.159
 say God

00:18:30.159 --> 00:18:30.439
 doesn't

00:18:30.439 --> 00:18:30.939
 understand.

00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:31.719
 We cannot

00:18:31.719 --> 00:18:32.319
 say God

00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:33.099
 doesn't care

00:18:33.099 --> 00:18:33.659
 about our

00:18:33.659 --> 00:18:34.359
 hurt and

00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:34.919
 our injustice.

00:18:35.659 --> 00:18:36.119
 The fact

00:18:36.119 --> 00:18:36.519
 that Jesus

00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:37.119
 came to

00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:38.339
 suffer so

00:18:38.339 --> 00:18:38.779
 that his

00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:39.659
 kingdom, his

00:18:39.659 --> 00:18:40.479
 perfect kingdom

00:18:40.479 --> 00:18:41.139
 could come,

00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:42.439
 shows us God

00:18:42.439 --> 00:18:43.059
 does care.

00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:43.839
 God has

00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:44.099
 gone to

00:18:44.099 --> 00:18:44.939
 great lengths.

00:18:46.299 --> 00:18:46.819
 Let me put

00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:47.399
 it like this.

00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:49.139
 Jesus died so

00:18:49.139 --> 00:18:49.799
 that God could

00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:51.039
 put an end to

00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:51.879
 hurt and

00:18:51.879 --> 00:18:52.479
 suffering and

00:18:52.479 --> 00:18:53.719
 evil without

00:18:53.719 --> 00:18:54.279
 putting an

00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:55.419
 end to me or

00:18:55.419 --> 00:18:55.699
 you.

00:18:55.700 --> 00:18:58.180
 God will

00:18:58.180 --> 00:18:58.440
 put an

00:18:58.440 --> 00:18:59.019
 end to

00:18:59.019 --> 00:18:59.500
 hurt and

00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:00.840
 suffering without

00:19:00.840 --> 00:19:01.420
 putting an

00:19:01.420 --> 00:19:02.240
 end to us

00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:03.000
 because Jesus

00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:03.440
 died.

00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:05.220
 We cannot

00:19:05.220 --> 00:19:05.640
 say God

00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:05.900
 doesn't

00:19:05.900 --> 00:19:06.340
 understand,

00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:06.779
 we cannot

00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:07.120
 say he

00:19:07.120 --> 00:19:07.620
 doesn't care,

00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:08.340
 and we

00:19:08.340 --> 00:19:08.960
 cannot say

00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:09.559
 God is not

00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:10.440
 powerful enough

00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:11.500
 to deal with

00:19:11.500 --> 00:19:12.200
 the hurt and

00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:12.759
 the evil and

00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:13.100
 suffering.

00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:14.700
 Jesus'

00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:16.279
 resurrection shows

00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:16.740
 us that he

00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:17.080
 is.

00:19:17.539 --> 00:19:18.259
 That promise

00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:18.940
 today you will

00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:19.580
 be with me in

00:19:19.580 --> 00:19:21.700
 paradise is a

00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:23.140
 little hint that

00:19:23.140 --> 00:19:23.520
 God is

00:19:23.520 --> 00:19:24.360
 powerful enough.

00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:26.040
 And if you

00:19:26.040 --> 00:19:26.640
 read on to

00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:27.020
 the end of

00:19:27.020 --> 00:19:27.360
 the Bible

00:19:27.360 --> 00:19:28.700
 story, you'll

00:19:28.700 --> 00:19:29.200
 see the very

00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:29.880
 good ending

00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:30.500
 that waits for

00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:31.440
 everyone who

00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:31.960
 trusts in

00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:32.900
 Jesus as

00:19:32.900 --> 00:19:33.920
 God's king and

00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:34.460
 seeks Jesus'

00:19:34.620 --> 00:19:34.900
 forgiveness.

00:19:35.620 --> 00:19:36.080
 Here's how the

00:19:36.080 --> 00:19:36.580
 story ends,

00:19:36.660 --> 00:19:37.560
 Revelation 21

00:19:37.560 --> 00:19:38.280
 verse 4.

00:19:38.840 --> 00:19:39.259
 It's in a

00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:40.320
 renewed physical

00:19:40.320 --> 00:19:41.060
 world that is

00:19:41.060 --> 00:19:41.640
 better than we

00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:42.200
 could ever dream

00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:42.500
 of.

00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:44.060
 God himself

00:19:44.060 --> 00:19:44.960
 will wipe away

00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:45.860
 every tear from

00:19:45.860 --> 00:19:47.040
 their eyes and

00:19:47.040 --> 00:19:47.759
 death shall be

00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:48.320
 no more.

00:19:48.980 --> 00:19:49.440
 Neither shall

00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:50.040
 there be mourning

00:19:50.040 --> 00:19:51.180
 nor crying

00:19:51.180 --> 00:19:51.860
 nor pain

00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:52.460
 anymore.

00:19:52.460 --> 00:19:53.400
 For the

00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:54.039
 former things

00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:54.539
 have passed

00:19:54.539 --> 00:19:54.960
 away.

00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:57.079
 Where is

00:19:57.079 --> 00:19:57.860
 God when it

00:19:57.860 --> 00:19:58.140
 hurts?

00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:00.779
 In Christ God

00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:01.420
 has demonstrated

00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:02.640
 his love for

00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:03.000
 a hurting,

00:20:03.420 --> 00:20:04.100
 broken world.

00:20:04.900 --> 00:20:05.880
 In Christ God

00:20:05.880 --> 00:20:07.240
 invites us to

00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:08.079
 a pain-free,

00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:08.900
 fear-free,

00:20:09.360 --> 00:20:10.400
 physical paradise.

00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:13.539
 In Christ we

00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:14.200
 can be forgiven

00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:15.299
 and come home to

00:20:15.299 --> 00:20:15.720
 the God who

00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:17.420
 made us and

00:20:17.420 --> 00:20:18.160
 find the comfort

00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:18.680
 that is only

00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:19.259
 available in

00:20:19.259 --> 00:20:19.440
 him.

00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:21.220
 The question

00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:21.640
 is,

00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:22.800
 do we

00:20:22.800 --> 00:20:23.400
 believe it?

00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:25.040
 Let me pray

00:20:25.040 --> 00:20:25.380
 for us.

00:20:25.380 --> 00:20:25.200
 Let me pray for

00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:25.400
 us.