WEBVTT

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 Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for your word.

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 It is sharper than any two-edged sword.

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 Lord, as we open up your gospel,

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 we ask that your Holy Spirit would do a work in our lives through your word.

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 We pray in Christ's name.

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 Amen.

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 Please have a seat.

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 It's a wonderful day.

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 We're together at last.

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 Some of you guys are visiting, which is tremendous.

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 We are opening up our service, our first service in the Gospel of Mark.

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 It's a wonderful place to open up God's word,

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 or to open up for our first service.

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 If you have a Bible, fantastic.

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 I'd ask you guys to follow along.

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 If you don't have a Bible, there are Bibles on the back table.

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 Anytime you can just get up and grab a Bible, feel free to do that.

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 There are some movies, and this is a very common illustration that I've heard recently, actually.

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 But there are some movies where if you miss the first bits of the movie,

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 you fail to understand the plot.

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 There is something very important for some movies,

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 the way they have that opening scene being so important

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 for the rest of the narrative, for the rest of the plot.

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 Interestingly, sometimes there's an important bit that is revisited at the beginning,

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 and it's also that we see again in the back.

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 So the placement of certain instances in a movie, I mean, it's very critical.

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 It's very critical if we're to watch a movie, understand the importance of the narrative plot.

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 This is exactly what we're going to explore this morning in Mark's Gospel.

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 Before we get into the Gospel, a little bit about Mark.

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 Mark doesn't write his Gospel in such a way that we hang on every single word Jesus says,

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 that Mark communicates in such a way that we hear the words of Jesus,

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 but more importantly, we see what Jesus does, how he interacts with people,

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 how he heals people and their reaction to him.

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 One commentator I read said that Mark, what he does is he writes with a paintbrush.

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 He asks us to enter into the drama that he is describing,

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 for us to understand who this Jesus really is, what he has come to do,

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 how he interacts with the rich and the poor and the marginalized or the proud.

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 And that's a revelation of who he is, who God is.

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 It's very important that as we read in these next coming weeks and months,

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 enter into the narrative, enter into the story.

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 Mark is writing with a paintbrush.

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 And it's really, really, it's a fantastic, fantastic way to read the Scriptures.

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 This morning, we are in the opening verses of Mark.

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 And like I mentioned about certain movies having an opening scene

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 that is critical for the whole narrative and it's revisited at the end,

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 we have two of those instances in our section of Scripture this morning.

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 It's very important that we understand this, actually, for the rest of our time in Mark.

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 It's a critical bit for us.

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 And we're going to be looking at two things that will present themselves in this opening section,

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 but that we'll also revisit at the end of chapter 15, at the end of Mark's Gospel.

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 The first thing is right off the bat, Mark 1, 1, and we see it again in verse 11,

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 where Jesus is called the Son of God.

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 This title that is given to him, the Son of God.

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 The second thing is when Jesus gets baptized, the heavens are torn open.

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 It's interesting.

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 We see this right off the bat.

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 We're actually going to see it again in the latter part of chapter 15.

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 Very critical, very critical bit for us to keep our eye on as we read the Scriptures.

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 So let's take a look first at the Son of God.

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 Right off the bat, Mark 1, 1, the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

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 Jesus gets baptized.

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 The heavens are torn.

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 The Spirit descends.

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 And in verse 10, verse 11,

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 And a voice came from heaven.

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 This is God the Father speaking.

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 You are my beloved Son.

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 With you, I am well pleased.

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 In Scripture, no other person was called the Son of God.

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 No other person.

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 Moses was a servant of God.

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 Aaron, the chosen one of God.

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 Abraham was the friend of God.

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 David was the man after God's own heart.

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 The Apostle Paul was the apostle of God.

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 Only the nation of Israel is called the beloved Son of God.

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 But Israel proves to be unfaithful time and time again.

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 And so, this title, the Son of God, it begins to evolve in the story of Scripture.

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 And eventually becomes a messianic title for the offspring of King David.

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 That somebody would come from Israel, and he would be called the Son of God, and he would save Israel.

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 And this title, Son of God, very important, begins to evolve.

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 But there was no specifics with this messianic title.

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 That the Messiah would come, and he would save Israel.

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 But how?

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 How would he save Israel?

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 How would he go about doing it?

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 There's allusions to it.

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 We can read back, you know, from the Gospels.

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 We know about Jesus.

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 We can read back into the prophetic books, especially in Isaiah, in the servant of the Lord.

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 But if you're there, present, before Jesus' time, who's the Messiah?

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 What is he going to do?

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 How is he going to save us?

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 The Son of God, this idea, it begins to evolve.

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 And by the time Jesus comes on the scene, there's centuries go by without God speaking to his people.

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 And the Son of God became this title for the Messiah.

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 The expectations were that the Messiah would come and would absolutely smite Israel's foes.

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 But even then, the Messiah was still just a man.

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 That's it.

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 He was just a man in the minds of the Israelites.

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 A mighty man.

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 A fantastic man.

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 A man of excellence.

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 A man full of God's strength.

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 But still a man.

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 A man.

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 Jesus, right off the bat, it seems like just, not like a throwaway bit, but verse 1-1, the

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 beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

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 It's like the intro credits to a movie.

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 It seems like it's just some kind of passing title.

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 But right off the bat, what Mark is doing, he's saying, let me introduce you to the hope

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 of Israel.

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 Israel.

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 The hope of the Messiah.

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 The one who will come to save Israel.

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 And we'll see what that kind of looks like.

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 Because it's not just Israel.

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 But Mark here is declaring that the hope has arrived.

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 He's on the scene.

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 He's come.

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 It's interesting.

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 Right off the bat, following on the heels of Mark's declaration, we see that this Son

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 of God is no mere man.

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 He is most certainly a man.

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 But there's something divine about him.

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 He's, he's, can't quite put your finger on, on who this Son of Man is, because right off

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 the bat, in verse 2 and verse 3, Mark quotes prophetic books that talk about the Son of

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 Man, the Messiah.

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 And all of a sudden, it's using the language allotted just to God.

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 Talking about John the Baptist.

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 Behold, I send my messenger before your face who will prepare your way.

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 This is talking about John the Baptist.

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 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord.

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 Make his path straight.

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 This Son of God is divine.

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 He is not just a mere man.

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 Not just a savior.

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 Not a guy that is just a bit stronger than the foe is able to vanquish them.

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 No, there's something, there's something greater to this Son of Man.

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 Verse 8 also.

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 John the Baptist speaking of the Son of Man, of Jesus.

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 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

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 Only God gives the Holy Spirit.

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 Nobody else can give the Holy Spirit of the Almighty God but God himself.

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 All of a sudden, this Son of Man, like it is an incredible, all of a sudden, it's like we double click on it.

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 And we see that the Son of Man is pregnant, like the title is pregnant with meaning.

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 It's no mere generic title.

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 God has visited Israel and he will save her.

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 And it is so interesting because we will see that this term doesn't show up again on the lips of anybody else until the very end of chapter 15.

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 If you turn with me to chapter 15, keep your finger or thumb in chapter 1.

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 In 15, I'll just, I mean, we're not going to get to this for some time as we preach through the gospel of Mark chapter by chapter.

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 But here we are.

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 Jesus is on the cross.

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 He has died.

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 And this is what it says.

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 This is a Roman centurion.

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 Verse 39 of chapter 15.

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 See, Mark has, it seems like there's a bit of a secret about who Jesus really is.

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 That Jesus is keeping from his disciples, from the religious leaders, from those who are poor.

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 Basically, all of Israel.

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 He keeps, it's almost a bit of a messianic secret.

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 And the first person in Mark's gospel to proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God is a Roman centurion.

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 And it's very likely that he was the captain of the guard squad that put Jesus to death.

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 It was his enemy.

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 Jesus' enemy.

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 A foreign ruler.

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 Jesus' son of God.

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 Jesus' son of God.

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 The Messiah was supposed to smite the Romans into oblivion.

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 To crush them.

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 That was the messianic hope.

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 And here Mark has, the first person to confess the Son of God, is the captain of the death squad.

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 It's remarkable.

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 And all of a sudden, this small picture of the Messiah, the Son of God, who was just supposed to save Israel,

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 we get a glimpse into the Son of God saving the entire world.

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 There is no insider or outsider if you confess who Christ is.

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 There is no greater outsider than the centurion who put him to death.

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 He is a pagan.

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 He is a man of blood.

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 A man of terror.

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 And Mark here, remember, right?

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 He bookends the entire gospel with the Son of God.

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 And we see it at the beginning and we see it at the end.

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 This is a very important scene.

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 And why is this important for us?

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 God is eliminating the boundary markers of who's in and who's out.

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 Who's clean and who's dirty.

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 Who's beloved and who is just refuse.

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 And it's not based on where you come from or who you are.

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 It's based on what Christ has done.

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 What he has done.

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 And all of a sudden, in our culture, in Canada, where there is so much polarization.

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 And there always is polarization, of course.

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 But it seems it's hit a bit of a fever pitch.

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 We see here God throwing all that stuff on its head.

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 The centurion doesn't...

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 I mean, he's still a centurion.

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 He doesn't go through some kind of de-radicalization class

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 before he is brought into the kingdom.

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 Or at least recognizes that Christ truly is God himself.

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 On the spot.

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 On the spot.

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 And we remember him.

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 We're reading about him 2,000 years later.

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 Remarkable.

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 What do we do?

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 We, in our culture, we decide who are the clean and unclean.

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 And we're polite about it.

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 We are.

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 We don't say it...

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 We scoff at the people who are overt in how they draw lines in the sand

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 between the good and the bad.

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 Based on politics.

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 Based on vaccination status.

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 Based on who you have a history with.

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 What your history is.

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 What part of town you live in.

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 It's true.

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 I mean, those are a few examples.

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 You could fill in other examples yourselves, I'm sure.

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 If you're honest with yourselves,

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 think about ways that you've done this.

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 Or maybe you have been on the receiving end.

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 You haven't been the one who has decided who's clean and unclean.

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 You're just unclean.

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 It's just been...

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 It's just...

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 It's been your experience.

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 People talking down to you.

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 Or marginalizing you.

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 This is...

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 This happens.

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 And why does it happen?

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 We...

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 What we do is we put ourselves in the judgment seat

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 that only God can occupy.

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 Only God can occupy that judgment seat

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 to declare who truly is clean and unclean.

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 And he has, in fact.

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 The scriptures speak very clearly

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 that sin, it makes all of us unclean.

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 And nobody in here, nobody in here is faultless.

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 Nobody is.

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 Certainly the Roman centurion wasn't.

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 And yet, a work was done in his heart

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 to open his eyes to the truth.

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 Remember, moments before,

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 earlier that day,

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 he participated in a mock...

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 of mocking Jesus,

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 of spitting on him,

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 of striking him.

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 And then all of a sudden,

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 he recognizes.

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 And if that's not the work of the Holy Spirit,

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 I mean, this is...

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 that's exactly it.

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 So what we see here

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 is that Jesus,

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 he is reconstituting humanity

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 into clean and unclean.

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 And it is based upon what he has done

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 on the cross at Golgotha.

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 That he has taken upon the sins of the world

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 so that we are made clean and right

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 by what he has done.

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 It's remarkable.

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 Son of God.

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 God.

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 We don't see it too often

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 in the scriptures.

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 And yet,

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 it is the very title

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 that really marks the gospel of Mark.

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 So that is one aspect,

00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:39.740
 one thing that starts at the beginning,

00:16:40.059 --> 00:16:40.779
 we see at the beginning,

00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:43.460
 and then we see at the end.

00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:45.559
 What is the other one?

00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:46.179
 Well, the other one,

00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:46.759
 like I mentioned,

00:16:46.940 --> 00:16:49.019
 is in verse 10.

00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:50.659
 I'm going to read verses 9 to 11,

00:16:50.659 --> 00:16:51.799
 the baptism of Jesus,

00:16:51.899 --> 00:16:52.659
 and we'll see it again.

00:16:52.659 --> 00:16:54.699
 In those days,

00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:56.480
 Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee

00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:58.959
 and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:01.980
 And when he came up out of the water,

00:17:02.059 --> 00:17:05.359
 immediately he saw the heavens being torn open

00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:07.799
 and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

00:17:08.159 --> 00:17:09.399
 And a voice came from heaven,

00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:11.059
 You are my beloved Son.

00:17:11.579 --> 00:17:13.779
 With you I am well pleased.

00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:15.659
 So at this baptism,

00:17:16.059 --> 00:17:17.139
 the heavens are torn,

00:17:17.140 --> 00:17:21.660
 and the image is of a violent tearing,

00:17:22.320 --> 00:17:25.200
 like a child opening their gift at Christmas.

00:17:25.800 --> 00:17:27.460
 You aren't saving the wrapping paper.

00:17:27.540 --> 00:17:28.080
 It is done.

00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:30.280
 I also like the example,

00:17:30.420 --> 00:17:34.720
 it's like when certain people get home decor boxes

00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:35.820
 in the mail from Wayfair,

00:17:36.080 --> 00:17:37.620
 and they just tear into them,

00:17:38.040 --> 00:17:40.340
 and the box is shredded to confetti.

00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:43.740
 The idea is that there's a violent tearing.

00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:48.640
 There is a violent tearing that is pictured here.

00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:51.859
 The Holy Spirit descends on Jesus.

00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:54.700
 The Father affirms his delight with the Son.

00:17:55.660 --> 00:17:56.079
 And here,

00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:57.759
 it's a bit of a side bit,

00:17:57.819 --> 00:17:58.680
 we won't get into it,

00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:01.160
 but it's not that God the Father

00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:03.000
 is adopting Jesus as his Son.

00:18:03.380 --> 00:18:05.779
 It's presupposed from the beginning of time.

00:18:06.339 --> 00:18:08.480
 This isn't like a divine adoption.

00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:12.960
 But here we see the Father affirming his delight with the Son.

00:18:13.380 --> 00:18:15.380
 We see the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

00:18:15.380 --> 00:18:16.579
 glorifying one another,

00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:18.759
 distinct yet together.

00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:22.579
 And this is a monumental event,

00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:23.980
 because like I mentioned,

00:18:24.940 --> 00:18:26.940
 we will see something very similar to it

00:18:26.940 --> 00:18:29.200
 at the end of chapter 15.

00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:30.240
 And by the way,

00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:31.440
 this was witnessed publicly.

00:18:31.860 --> 00:18:34.720
 This wasn't just an existential experience

00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:36.880
 that Jesus had.

00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:40.060
 There were witnesses to Jesus' baptism,

00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:41.980
 and witnesses to the heavens being torn,

00:18:42.140 --> 00:18:44.700
 and the Holy Spirit descending upon him.

00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:46.580
 And the voice of God

00:18:46.580 --> 00:18:50.020
 declaring his delight in the Son.

00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:52.260
 So what is this other example?

00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:52.960
 Well, again,

00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:55.620
 put your thumb in

00:18:55.620 --> 00:18:57.220
 to chapter 1,

00:18:57.300 --> 00:18:58.160
 and join with me

00:18:58.160 --> 00:18:59.620
 in chapter 15.

00:18:59.619 --> 00:19:02.819
 And this is right before

00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:05.139
 the centurion says what he says

00:19:05.139 --> 00:19:07.839
 about Jesus being the Son of God.

00:19:08.619 --> 00:19:09.059
 So Jesus,

00:19:09.159 --> 00:19:10.339
 why don't we back it up a little bit,

00:19:10.419 --> 00:19:11.439
 starting in verse 33.

00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:14.359
 Chapter 15, verse 33.

00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:16.039
 And when the sixth hour had come,

00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:17.959
 there was darkness over the whole land

00:19:17.959 --> 00:19:18.959
 until the ninth hour.

00:19:19.379 --> 00:19:20.259
 And at the ninth hour,

00:19:20.379 --> 00:19:21.919
 Jesus cried with a loud voice,

00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:24.079
 Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?

00:19:24.439 --> 00:19:24.899
 Which means,

00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:25.699
 My God, my God,

00:19:25.739 --> 00:19:26.799
 why have you forsaken me?

00:19:27.379 --> 00:19:28.979
 And some of the bystanders hearing it said,

00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:30.299
 Behold, he is calling Elijah.

00:19:30.440 --> 00:19:31.880
 And someone ran and filled a sponge

00:19:31.880 --> 00:19:33.059
 with sour wine,

00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:33.960
 put it on a reed,

00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:35.000
 and gave it to him to drink,

00:19:35.099 --> 00:19:35.339
 saying,

00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:37.220
 Wait, let us see

00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:38.460
 whether Elijah will come

00:19:38.460 --> 00:19:39.660
 to take him down.

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:42.259
 And Jesus uttered a loud cry

00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:43.440
 and breathed his last.

00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:44.200
 Verse 38.

00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:45.259
 Here it is.

00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:47.120
 And the curtain of the temple

00:19:47.120 --> 00:19:48.579
 was torn in two

00:19:48.579 --> 00:19:49.660
 from top to bottom.

00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:52.220
 It's the same word.

00:19:52.380 --> 00:19:53.460
 It's the same idea.

00:19:53.620 --> 00:19:55.360
 It's the same picture

00:19:55.360 --> 00:19:57.079
 of a violent tearing

00:19:57.079 --> 00:19:59.439
 of the curtain temple

00:19:59.439 --> 00:20:02.839
 in the second temple

00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:03.679
 in Herod's temple

00:20:03.679 --> 00:20:05.000
 that represented

00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:06.079
 the separation

00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:08.559
 between man and God.

00:20:10.299 --> 00:20:11.859
 So we have the heavens

00:20:11.859 --> 00:20:13.720
 being torn open

00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:14.879
 and the spirit descending,

00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:16.299
 and we have,

00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:18.419
 after Jesus has breathed his last,

00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.619
 as the Son of God

00:20:19.619 --> 00:20:20.379
 on the cross.

00:20:20.380 --> 00:20:23.080
 The very thing

00:20:23.080 --> 00:20:23.980
 that separated

00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:25.460
 symbolically

00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:27.460
 mankind from God,

00:20:27.540 --> 00:20:28.560
 it's torn

00:20:28.560 --> 00:20:30.040
 in a way

00:20:30.040 --> 00:20:32.200
 where it's not going

00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:33.200
 to be stitched up again.

00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:35.920
 Just in case anybody

00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:37.900
 wanted to give that a go.

00:20:39.020 --> 00:20:39.560
 It's done.

00:20:40.280 --> 00:20:41.460
 The curtain's done.

00:20:43.140 --> 00:20:44.280
 There's always been

00:20:44.280 --> 00:20:45.020
 this separation

00:20:45.020 --> 00:20:46.680
 between God and man

00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:50.000
 from our first father

00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:50.539
 and mother,

00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:51.279
 Adam and Eve,

00:20:51.420 --> 00:20:52.200
 sinning in the garden.

00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:54.440
 They were expelled

00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:55.100
 from the garden.

00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:55.820
 They were separated

00:20:55.820 --> 00:20:56.360
 from God.

00:20:56.420 --> 00:20:57.279
 There's always been

00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:58.480
 some kind of separation.

00:21:00.140 --> 00:21:01.420
 We have this wonderful

00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:02.340
 kids' book.

00:21:02.460 --> 00:21:02.720
 It's called

00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:03.220
 The Garden,

00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:04.220
 The Curtain,

00:21:04.320 --> 00:21:04.900
 and The Cross,

00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:06.000
 and it tells this story.

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:09.660
 And the refrain is,

00:21:09.820 --> 00:21:10.700
 because of your sin,

00:21:11.560 --> 00:21:12.720
 you can't come in.

00:21:12.860 --> 00:21:13.680
 That's what God says

00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:14.140
 to people.

00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:16.140
 Not because God is mean,

00:21:16.140 --> 00:21:17.140
 but because He is holy.

00:21:18.180 --> 00:21:19.280
 And because the holy God

00:21:19.280 --> 00:21:20.020
 can't interact

00:21:20.020 --> 00:21:20.720
 with sinful,

00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:21.580
 broken,

00:21:22.080 --> 00:21:23.180
 messy people.

00:21:25.540 --> 00:21:26.860
 And how do we sin?

00:21:27.780 --> 00:21:29.080
 Because sin can be,

00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:29.460
 again,

00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:31.600
 a term thrown around

00:21:31.600 --> 00:21:33.940
 to ostracize this group

00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:34.660
 from that group.

00:21:35.520 --> 00:21:36.480
 But in this case,

00:21:37.060 --> 00:21:37.860
 I'll say this.

00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:39.800
 Instead of recognizing

00:21:39.800 --> 00:21:40.780
 the kingship of God,

00:21:40.860 --> 00:21:41.900
 we fancy ourselves

00:21:41.900 --> 00:21:43.259
 as kings.

00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:45.600
 Once again,

00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:47.339
 our autonomous rule

00:21:47.339 --> 00:21:48.059
 bubbles up,

00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:49.839
 our ego takes over,

00:21:49.939 --> 00:21:50.899
 we know what's best.

00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:52.740
 We put ourselves

00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:53.839
 in the seat

00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:54.419
 of the Creator.

00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:56.539
 We assume His throne.

00:21:58.439 --> 00:21:59.659
 And here's the thing.

00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:01.119
 The irony is that

00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:01.519
 at best,

00:22:01.639 --> 00:22:02.679
 we're puppet kings

00:22:02.679 --> 00:22:04.419
 of our own lives,

00:22:04.419 --> 00:22:05.439
 if we think that

00:22:05.439 --> 00:22:06.159
 we are the kings

00:22:06.159 --> 00:22:06.679
 and queens

00:22:06.679 --> 00:22:07.399
 of our lives.

00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:08.500
 Puppets.

00:22:09.419 --> 00:22:09.879
 Puppets.

00:22:09.959 --> 00:22:11.159
 Because the real ruler

00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:13.840
 will be our flesh,

00:22:14.340 --> 00:22:15.120
 our desires,

00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:17.580
 that are not kept in check,

00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:19.200
 but that just rage,

00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:21.900
 our bellies,

00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:23.019
 our eyes,

00:22:23.340 --> 00:22:24.759
 our sexual drives,

00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:27.400
 our desires for prestige.

00:22:27.400 --> 00:22:30.100
 The world will also

00:22:30.100 --> 00:22:31.500
 direct the way

00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:31.920
 we,

00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:33.480
 what will be our king,

00:22:33.580 --> 00:22:34.540
 will be the true king

00:22:34.540 --> 00:22:35.580
 and we'll just be puppets.

00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:37.040
 The world has

00:22:37.040 --> 00:22:38.759
 a wonderful way

00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:39.240
 of saying

00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:40.220
 what is the right way

00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:40.759
 to live

00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:42.280
 from one moment

00:22:42.280 --> 00:22:42.920
 to the next.

00:22:44.540 --> 00:22:45.840
 And that's exhausting

00:22:45.840 --> 00:22:47.320
 to keep up with.

00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:48.960
 And it's also false.

00:22:50.040 --> 00:22:50.960
 And then there's the enemy.

00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:52.240
 He will tempt,

00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:53.700
 and if we give in,

00:22:53.860 --> 00:22:55.420
 He is ruling the roost.

00:22:55.539 --> 00:22:56.380
 He is the king.

00:22:56.820 --> 00:22:57.820
 And we are just puppet kings.

00:22:57.900 --> 00:22:58.420
 That's if,

00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:01.000
 that's if we assume

00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:02.800
 the throne of God.

00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:05.860
 The thing is,

00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:06.259
 I mean,

00:23:06.380 --> 00:23:09.240
 we don't want to be ruled

00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:09.820
 by anybody,

00:23:09.960 --> 00:23:10.560
 but the fact is

00:23:10.560 --> 00:23:11.720
 we were made to be ruled.

00:23:12.100 --> 00:23:13.500
 And that's not exactly

00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:14.340
 a fun thing to say.

00:23:15.140 --> 00:23:16.140
 But it's the right thing

00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:16.539
 to say.

00:23:17.820 --> 00:23:19.060
 Because when we live

00:23:19.060 --> 00:23:20.080
 under God's rule,

00:23:20.080 --> 00:23:20.460
 it's,

00:23:20.700 --> 00:23:23.180
 it's the most freeing

00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:23.700
 we can be.

00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:25.880
 the most free

00:23:25.880 --> 00:23:26.440
 we can be.

00:23:27.160 --> 00:23:28.799
 The most authentic

00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:30.120
 selves we may be

00:23:30.120 --> 00:23:30.759
 will be under

00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:31.680
 God's rule.

00:23:32.600 --> 00:23:33.340
 There's this wonderful,

00:23:33.660 --> 00:23:34.840
 I think it is,

00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.160
 the collect

00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:37.740
 for Concord.

00:23:38.140 --> 00:23:39.019
 It talks about,

00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:40.120
 in your service

00:23:40.120 --> 00:23:41.100
 there's perfect freedom.

00:23:42.120 --> 00:23:43.759
 It's in the liturgy

00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:44.580
 for morning prayer.

00:23:45.100 --> 00:23:46.080
 In your service

00:23:46.080 --> 00:23:47.539
 to the king

00:23:47.539 --> 00:23:48.580
 there's perfect freedom.

00:23:49.660 --> 00:23:50.700
 It's a wonderful

00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:52.680
 kind of juxtaposition.

00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:55.060
 But this is the reality

00:23:55.060 --> 00:23:55.420
 of it.

00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:55.720
 I mean,

00:23:56.080 --> 00:23:56.519
 God,

00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:57.480
 what he has done

00:23:57.480 --> 00:23:58.200
 in Christ,

00:23:58.299 --> 00:24:00.560
 the son of God,

00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:02.160
 the king of the universe,

00:24:02.580 --> 00:24:03.680
 he has made a way

00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:04.600
 for us to enter

00:24:04.600 --> 00:24:05.740
 into his presence again.

00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:08.000
 So that we are free.

00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:09.000
 And what are we free

00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:09.920
 to do?

00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:10.900
 We are free

00:24:10.900 --> 00:24:11.600
 to serve him.

00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:13.940
 So we have this

00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:14.279
 tearing

00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:15.759
 at the baptism

00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:16.740
 and we have this

00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:17.200
 tearing

00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:18.440
 at his death

00:24:18.440 --> 00:24:19.620
 and it means

00:24:19.620 --> 00:24:20.680
 for us

00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:22.259
 that we get

00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:22.920
 to be

00:24:22.920 --> 00:24:23.880
 under the reign

00:24:23.880 --> 00:24:24.420
 and rule

00:24:24.420 --> 00:24:24.980
 of Christ.

00:24:25.620 --> 00:24:26.539
 And it is freedom.

00:24:27.100 --> 00:24:27.880
 It is freedom.

00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:28.759
 It's wonderful.

00:24:30.600 --> 00:24:31.740
 So how should we live?

00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:33.620
 There's two ways.

00:24:34.840 --> 00:24:35.720
 The first is

00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:38.080
 to live

00:24:38.080 --> 00:24:39.360
 a humble life

00:24:39.360 --> 00:24:39.799
 of worship

00:24:39.799 --> 00:24:40.460
 to Jesus.

00:24:42.860 --> 00:24:43.920
 In certain

00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:44.720
 homiletics classes

00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.840
 that's like a preaching class.

00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:46.840
 You talk about

00:24:46.840 --> 00:24:47.460
 application.

00:24:47.460 --> 00:24:49.160
 And, you know,

00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:49.900
 the best

00:24:49.900 --> 00:24:52.200
 application

00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:54.880
 is to come away

00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:55.600
 from

00:24:55.600 --> 00:24:56.759
 a sermon,

00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:57.960
 from a church service

00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:59.380
 and worshiping Christ.

00:25:01.079 --> 00:25:02.460
 Knowing him more

00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.819
 and worshiping him.

00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:05.180
 Having

00:25:05.180 --> 00:25:06.519
 your desire

00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:07.660
 to please him

00:25:07.660 --> 00:25:10.259
 be the

00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:11.579
 very main desire

00:25:11.579 --> 00:25:12.620
 guiding your life.

00:25:13.700 --> 00:25:14.400
 So the first

00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:15.380
 way that we should

00:25:15.380 --> 00:25:16.319
 live in light

00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:18.079
 of the Son of God

00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:19.599
 who dies on the cross

00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:20.700
 to save humanity,

00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:22.559
 who tears the curtain

00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:23.179
 in two,

00:25:24.159 --> 00:25:25.079
 ushering us back

00:25:25.079 --> 00:25:26.179
 into the very presence

00:25:26.179 --> 00:25:26.939
 and rule

00:25:26.939 --> 00:25:27.579
 of God

00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:28.579
 is to worship.

00:25:30.359 --> 00:25:31.419
 You will live

00:25:31.419 --> 00:25:34.299
 a more free life,

00:25:34.399 --> 00:25:35.099
 a life more

00:25:35.099 --> 00:25:36.500
 full of peace

00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:37.859
 because your sins

00:25:37.859 --> 00:25:38.799
 are counted against you

00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:39.200
 no more.

00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:41.740
 A clean conscience.

00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:43.839
 It is wonderful.

00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:47.000
 We see this

00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:47.740
 in John the Baptist.

00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:49.099
 We'll go back with me.

00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:49.799
 Chapter 1,

00:25:49.859 --> 00:25:50.359
 verse 7.

00:25:51.620 --> 00:25:52.440
 John says this.

00:25:54.059 --> 00:25:55.019
 And he preached,

00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:55.599
 John preached,

00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:55.900
 saying,

00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:56.579
 After me

00:25:56.579 --> 00:25:57.759
 comes he

00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:58.380
 who is mightier

00:25:58.380 --> 00:25:58.759
 than I,

00:25:59.240 --> 00:25:59.819
 the strap

00:25:59.819 --> 00:26:00.579
 of whose sandals

00:26:00.579 --> 00:26:01.339
 I am not worthy

00:26:01.339 --> 00:26:02.180
 to stoop down

00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:02.900
 and untie.

00:26:02.900 --> 00:26:07.060
 The job of the man

00:26:07.060 --> 00:26:08.860
 who was to

00:26:08.860 --> 00:26:10.580
 take off the sandals

00:26:10.580 --> 00:26:11.580
 and wash the feet

00:26:11.580 --> 00:26:13.340
 was the slave,

00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:14.380
 was the servant,

00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:15.519
 was the lowest

00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:17.720
 in the pecking order.

00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:19.180
 The feet,

00:26:19.460 --> 00:26:20.800
 it was disgusting.

00:26:21.800 --> 00:26:22.840
 And John is saying

00:26:22.840 --> 00:26:24.120
 the right thing.

00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:26.100
 I am not even worthy

00:26:26.100 --> 00:26:27.960
 to stoop down

00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:29.780
 to untie his sandal.

00:26:29.840 --> 00:26:31.080
 May we have that heart.

00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:34.419
 May we have that heart.

00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:35.359
 We will partake

00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:36.480
 in Holy Communion soon.

00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:38.039
 And one of the prayers

00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:38.639
 we'll pray

00:26:38.639 --> 00:26:39.299
 is the prayer

00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:40.220
 of humble access.

00:26:40.419 --> 00:26:41.059
 And it says,

00:26:41.159 --> 00:26:41.879
 We do not presume

00:26:41.879 --> 00:26:42.679
 to come to this,

00:26:42.779 --> 00:26:43.220
 your table,

00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:44.099
 O merciful Lord,

00:26:44.199 --> 00:26:46.240
 trusting in our own righteousness,

00:26:46.619 --> 00:26:47.759
 but in your manifold

00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:48.960
 and great mercies.

00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:50.819
 It's the same heart

00:26:50.819 --> 00:26:52.619
 that John is having here.

00:26:53.699 --> 00:26:54.699
 We humbly,

00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:55.919
 humbly submit.

00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:56.799
 And the fact is,

00:26:57.879 --> 00:27:00.240
 what Christ does

00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:00.799
 on the cross,

00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:01.559
 we come into

00:27:01.559 --> 00:27:02.559
 the throne room of God,

00:27:02.639 --> 00:27:03.220
 and yes,

00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:04.339
 we can approach God

00:27:04.339 --> 00:27:05.919
 boldly because of Christ.

00:27:06.619 --> 00:27:07.519
 We can call him

00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:08.200
 Abba Father,

00:27:08.419 --> 00:27:09.460
 like a closeness

00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:11.059
 to that fatherly relationship,

00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:12.759
 but he is still a king.

00:27:13.899 --> 00:27:15.119
 He is still a king

00:27:15.119 --> 00:27:16.259
 and he deserves reverence.

00:27:17.139 --> 00:27:18.599
 And it's a humble heart

00:27:18.599 --> 00:27:19.899
 that approaches

00:27:19.899 --> 00:27:21.019
 the living God.

00:27:22.139 --> 00:27:23.899
 That is the way

00:27:23.899 --> 00:27:25.039
 of the Christian.

00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:29.940
 The second thing

00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:30.619
 is linked to

00:27:30.619 --> 00:27:31.659
 that humble

00:27:31.659 --> 00:27:32.659
 life of worship

00:27:32.659 --> 00:27:33.200
 to Jesus.

00:27:34.180 --> 00:27:34.720
 And it's

00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:35.579
 to expect hardship.

00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:37.519
 It really is

00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:38.680
 to expect hardship.

00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:40.639
 To follow the way

00:27:40.639 --> 00:27:41.079
 of Christ

00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:42.139
 as the people of God.

00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:43.240
 The wilderness

00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:44.720
 is always the destiny.

00:27:45.859 --> 00:27:46.759
 Israel gets

00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:47.440
 rescued

00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:48.139
 from

00:27:48.139 --> 00:27:49.420
 slavery

00:27:49.420 --> 00:27:50.039
 and bondage

00:27:50.039 --> 00:27:50.399
 to Egypt

00:27:50.399 --> 00:27:51.279
 right into the wilderness

00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:52.200
 for 40 days.

00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:53.460
 And here we have

00:27:53.460 --> 00:27:54.640
 Jesus going into

00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:55.019
 the wilderness

00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:56.019
 for 40 years

00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:56.880
 and Jesus going into

00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:57.259
 the wilderness

00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:58.019
 for 40 days.

00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:59.380
 That's no coincidence.

00:28:00.620 --> 00:28:01.259
 Mark is

00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:02.299
 helping us

00:28:02.299 --> 00:28:02.940
 to remember

00:28:02.940 --> 00:28:04.000
 the way

00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:05.299
 of God's people.

00:28:05.420 --> 00:28:05.900
 The way

00:28:05.900 --> 00:28:07.039
 of God.

00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:08.940
 John,

00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:10.220
 his whole ministry

00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:11.319
 is in the wilderness.

00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:12.160
 It is difficult.

00:28:12.340 --> 00:28:12.819
 It means

00:28:12.819 --> 00:28:14.039
 that when we put

00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:15.120
 ourselves

00:28:15.120 --> 00:28:16.700
 under the lordship

00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:17.340
 of Christ

00:28:17.340 --> 00:28:17.980
 and submit

00:28:17.980 --> 00:28:19.140
 to his ways,

00:28:19.740 --> 00:28:20.019
 yes,

00:28:20.100 --> 00:28:21.059
 we will have peace.

00:28:21.059 --> 00:28:22.639
 we will have joy

00:28:22.639 --> 00:28:24.500
 but we also

00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:25.179
 have hardships

00:28:25.179 --> 00:28:26.480
 because his way

00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:27.319
 is not the world's way.

00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:28.159
 He came to establish

00:28:28.159 --> 00:28:28.679
 the kingdom

00:28:28.679 --> 00:28:29.259
 of heaven

00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:29.859
 on earth

00:28:29.859 --> 00:28:32.639
 and just remember

00:28:32.639 --> 00:28:34.579
 you were part

00:28:34.579 --> 00:28:35.079
 of the kingdom

00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:36.159
 of earth.

00:28:36.980 --> 00:28:37.819
 You don't like

00:28:37.819 --> 00:28:38.179
 you feel

00:28:38.179 --> 00:28:39.099
 straight jacketed.

00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:40.720
 You are in

00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.559
 active rebellion

00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:42.059
 against

00:28:42.059 --> 00:28:43.460
 the kingdom

00:28:43.460 --> 00:28:43.899
 of heaven.

00:28:45.159 --> 00:28:45.980
 The centurion,

00:28:46.139 --> 00:28:46.480
 remember,

00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:47.940
 he is

00:28:47.940 --> 00:28:49.019
 inactive

00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:50.660
 actively

00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:51.259
 opposing

00:28:51.259 --> 00:28:51.700
 the kingdom

00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:52.139
 of heaven.

00:28:53.740 --> 00:28:54.500
 Now he is

00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:55.139
 a part of it

00:28:55.139 --> 00:28:56.339
 and it comes

00:28:56.339 --> 00:28:57.059
 with great

00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:58.119
 sacrifice

00:28:58.119 --> 00:28:58.660
 and hardships

00:28:58.660 --> 00:28:59.539
 and it doesn't

00:28:59.539 --> 00:29:00.319
 necessarily mean

00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:00.680
 you will be

00:29:00.680 --> 00:29:01.539
 facing martyrdom

00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:03.259
 but it might

00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:03.660
 mean

00:29:03.660 --> 00:29:05.180
 that you don't

00:29:05.180 --> 00:29:05.579
 compromise

00:29:05.579 --> 00:29:06.240
 that work

00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:07.460
 in a way

00:29:07.460 --> 00:29:07.839
 that would

00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:09.019
 get you promoted.

00:29:09.559 --> 00:29:10.440
 That there is

00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:12.559
 a thankfulness

00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:14.039
 that totally

00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:14.599
 trumps

00:29:14.599 --> 00:29:15.779
 the desire

00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:16.980
 to climb

00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:19.440
 over people

00:29:19.440 --> 00:29:21.000
 stepping over

00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:21.160
 them

00:29:21.160 --> 00:29:21.779
 stepping on

00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:22.039
 them.

00:29:23.160 --> 00:29:23.539
 It might

00:29:23.539 --> 00:29:24.359
 mean living

00:29:24.359 --> 00:29:25.180
 a celibate

00:29:25.180 --> 00:29:25.639
 life

00:29:25.639 --> 00:29:26.899
 and that's

00:29:26.899 --> 00:29:27.259
 hard

00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:28.299
 it's lonely

00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:30.579
 but it's

00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.019
 the right way

00:29:31.019 --> 00:29:31.299
 to do it

00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:31.700
 it's hard

00:29:31.700 --> 00:29:32.160
 there's

00:29:32.160 --> 00:29:32.519
 hardships

00:29:32.519 --> 00:29:33.680
 getting reviled

00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:34.259
 for sharing

00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:34.879
 your faith

00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:34.960
 faith.

00:29:36.760 --> 00:29:37.640
 We have

00:29:37.640 --> 00:29:38.640
 brothers and

00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:39.060
 sisters

00:29:39.060 --> 00:29:41.020
 in Central

00:29:41.020 --> 00:29:41.460
 Asia

00:29:41.460 --> 00:29:43.240
 we support

00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:43.760
 Church of the

00:29:43.760 --> 00:29:44.140
 Messiah

00:29:44.140 --> 00:29:45.080
 a brother

00:29:45.080 --> 00:29:46.020
 in East

00:29:46.020 --> 00:29:46.420
 Asia

00:29:46.420 --> 00:29:47.480
 that this

00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:47.740
 is his

00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.460
 very reality

00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:49.280
 is the

00:29:49.280 --> 00:29:49.740
 potential

00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:50.900
 the ever

00:29:50.900 --> 00:29:53.240
 possible

00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:54.120
 likelihood

00:29:54.120 --> 00:29:54.720
 of him

00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:55.180
 getting

00:29:55.180 --> 00:29:56.060
 persecuted

00:29:56.060 --> 00:29:56.600
 for his

00:29:56.600 --> 00:29:56.820
 faith

00:29:56.820 --> 00:29:57.460
 facing

00:29:57.460 --> 00:29:58.000
 hardships

00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:59.140
 and yet

00:29:59.140 --> 00:30:00.300
 if you

00:30:00.300 --> 00:30:00.740
 talk with

00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:00.960
 him

00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:01.400
 he has

00:30:01.400 --> 00:30:01.760
 joy

00:30:01.760 --> 00:30:02.220
 he has

00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:02.640
 peace

00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:05.420
 so how

00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:05.720
 should we

00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:06.160
 live in

00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:06.520
 light of

00:30:06.520 --> 00:30:06.780
 all of

00:30:06.780 --> 00:30:07.060
 this

00:30:07.060 --> 00:30:08.000
 as God

00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:08.460
 being our

00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:08.800
 king

00:30:08.800 --> 00:30:09.200
 the son

00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:09.700
 of God

00:30:09.700 --> 00:30:11.100
 in worship

00:30:11.100 --> 00:30:12.080
 and in

00:30:12.080 --> 00:30:12.620
 expectation

00:30:12.620 --> 00:30:14.080
 that he

00:30:14.080 --> 00:30:14.980
 will lead

00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:15.340
 us down

00:30:15.340 --> 00:30:15.759
 the same

00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:16.180
 path

00:30:16.180 --> 00:30:16.860
 that he

00:30:16.860 --> 00:30:17.220
 walked

00:30:17.220 --> 00:30:19.320
 friends

00:30:19.320 --> 00:30:19.820
 if you

00:30:19.820 --> 00:30:20.320
 do not

00:30:20.320 --> 00:30:21.420
 know this

00:30:21.420 --> 00:30:21.700
 king

00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:22.020
 if you

00:30:22.020 --> 00:30:22.420
 are new

00:30:22.420 --> 00:30:22.740
 to the

00:30:22.740 --> 00:30:23.000
 Christian

00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:23.520
 faith

00:30:23.520 --> 00:30:24.560
 or you

00:30:24.560 --> 00:30:24.820
 fall in

00:30:24.820 --> 00:30:25.259
 the way

00:30:25.259 --> 00:30:26.460
 you're a

00:30:26.460 --> 00:30:26.700
 seeker

00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:27.020
 in some

00:30:27.020 --> 00:30:27.360
 kind of

00:30:27.360 --> 00:30:27.980
 capacity

00:30:27.980 --> 00:30:29.860
 like the

00:30:29.860 --> 00:30:30.160
 Roman

00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:30.880
 centurion

00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:32.800
 who says

00:30:32.800 --> 00:30:33.520
 truly this

00:30:33.520 --> 00:30:33.820
 was the

00:30:33.820 --> 00:30:34.060
 son of

00:30:34.060 --> 00:30:34.220
 God

00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:34.720
 this is

00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:35.640
 just like

00:30:35.640 --> 00:30:35.880
 that

00:30:35.880 --> 00:30:36.280
 just in

00:30:36.280 --> 00:30:36.680
 a moment

00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:37.940
 and you

00:30:37.940 --> 00:30:38.300
 are part

00:30:38.300 --> 00:30:38.540
 of his

00:30:38.540 --> 00:30:38.800
 kingdom

00:30:38.800 --> 00:30:39.540
 you are

00:30:39.540 --> 00:30:40.040
 a son

00:30:40.040 --> 00:30:40.420
 or a

00:30:40.420 --> 00:30:40.680
 daughter

00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:41.300
 of the

00:30:41.300 --> 00:30:41.480
 living

00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:41.800
 God

00:30:41.800 --> 00:30:42.100
 you come

00:30:42.100 --> 00:30:42.260
 under

00:30:42.260 --> 00:30:42.440
 the

00:30:42.440 --> 00:30:42.960
 lordship

00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:44.480
 and kingship

00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:45.260
 of the

00:30:45.260 --> 00:30:45.860
 son of

00:30:45.860 --> 00:30:46.120
 God

00:30:46.120 --> 00:30:46.420
 Jesus

00:30:46.420 --> 00:30:46.840
 Christ

00:30:46.840 --> 00:30:47.160
 and for

00:30:47.160 --> 00:30:47.520
 us

00:30:47.520 --> 00:30:48.680
 may we

00:30:48.680 --> 00:30:49.220
 ask that

00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:49.560
 the Holy

00:30:49.560 --> 00:30:50.020
 Spirit

00:30:50.020 --> 00:30:50.620
 would work

00:30:50.620 --> 00:30:51.000
 in our

00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:51.680
 lives

00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:52.420
 work in

00:30:52.420 --> 00:30:52.560
 our

00:30:52.560 --> 00:30:52.940
 lives

00:30:52.940 --> 00:30:54.260
 helping us

00:30:54.260 --> 00:30:54.540
 to put

00:30:54.540 --> 00:30:54.860
 away

00:30:54.860 --> 00:30:55.220
 sin

00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:55.500
 it's

00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:55.780
 like

00:30:55.780 --> 00:30:56.760
 we

00:30:56.760 --> 00:30:57.420
 still

00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:58.700
 like the

00:30:58.700 --> 00:30:59.160
 Israelites

00:30:59.160 --> 00:31:00.280
 we still

00:31:00.280 --> 00:31:00.720
 kind of

00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:01.559
 pine after

00:31:01.559 --> 00:31:01.860
 the

00:31:01.860 --> 00:31:02.779
 food

00:31:02.779 --> 00:31:03.019
 the

00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:03.440
 life

00:31:03.440 --> 00:31:03.620
 of

00:31:03.620 --> 00:31:03.920
 Egypt

00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:04.259
 failing

00:31:04.259 --> 00:31:04.440
 to

00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:04.700
 remember

00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:04.920
 that

00:31:04.920 --> 00:31:05.039
 it

00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:05.180
 is

00:31:05.180 --> 00:31:05.759
 bondage

00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.220
 and

00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:06.380
 that

00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:06.600
 God

00:31:06.600 --> 00:31:07.000
 offers

00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:07.140
 us

00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:07.319
 so

00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:07.500
 much

00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:07.759
 more

00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:08.380
 we

00:31:08.380 --> 00:31:08.940
 struggle

00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:09.240
 with

00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:09.759
 living

00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:10.200
 in

00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:10.360
 the

00:31:10.360 --> 00:31:10.660
 kingdom

00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:10.940
 of

00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:11.240
 heaven

00:31:11.240 --> 00:31:11.720
 on

00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.100
 earth

00:31:12.100 --> 00:31:13.180
 and

00:31:13.180 --> 00:31:13.279
 we

00:31:13.279 --> 00:31:13.420
 need

00:31:13.420 --> 00:31:13.539
 to

00:31:13.539 --> 00:31:13.799
 ask

00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:13.940
 that

00:31:13.940 --> 00:31:14.059
 the

00:31:14.059 --> 00:31:14.180
 Lord

00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:14.319
 will

00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:14.440
 give

00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:14.579
 us

00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:14.860
 strength

00:31:14.860 --> 00:31:15.000
 to

00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:15.140
 do

00:31:15.140 --> 00:31:15.420
 so

00:31:15.420 --> 00:31:17.559
 let's

00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:17.839
 stand

00:31:17.839 --> 00:31:17.980
 and

00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:18.200
 let's

00:31:18.200 --> 00:31:18.480
 pray

00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:28.360
 ask

00:31:28.360 --> 00:31:28.500
 if

00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:28.579
 you

00:31:28.579 --> 00:31:28.700
 have

00:31:28.700 --> 00:31:29.019
 children

00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:29.220
 you

00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:29.360
 can

00:31:29.360 --> 00:31:29.559
 get

00:31:29.559 --> 00:31:29.759
 them

00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:30.220
 now

00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:30.420
 and

00:31:30.420 --> 00:31:30.620
 sign

00:31:30.620 --> 00:31:30.759
 them

00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:31.000
 out

00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:32.480
 and

00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:32.880
 bring

00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:33.039
 them

00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:33.279
 back

00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:33.500
 for

00:31:33.500 --> 00:31:33.640
 a

00:31:33.640 --> 00:31:33.900
 time

00:31:33.900 --> 00:31:34.279
 of

00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:34.539
 holy

00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:34.920
 communion

00:31:34.920 --> 00:31:37.720
 heavenly

00:31:37.720 --> 00:31:38.019
 father

00:31:38.019 --> 00:31:38.200
 we

00:31:38.200 --> 00:31:38.440
 thank

00:31:38.440 --> 00:31:38.559
 you

00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:38.740
 so

00:31:38.740 --> 00:31:38.960
 much

00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:39.279
 for

00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:40.079
 your

00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:40.819
 wonderful

00:31:40.819 --> 00:31:41.380
 truth

00:31:41.380 --> 00:31:41.599
 in

00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:41.880
 scripture

00:31:41.880 --> 00:31:42.720
 that

00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:42.920
 the

00:31:42.920 --> 00:31:43.220
 son

00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:43.579
 of

00:31:43.579 --> 00:31:43.960
 God

00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:44.200
 was

00:31:44.200 --> 00:31:44.440
 much

00:31:44.440 --> 00:31:44.740
 more

00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:44.960
 than

00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:45.319
 just

00:31:45.319 --> 00:31:45.839
 a

00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:46.120
 savior

00:31:46.119 --> 00:31:46.419
 for

00:31:46.419 --> 00:31:47.199
 Israel

00:31:47.199 --> 00:31:48.000
 against

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:48.399
 their

00:31:48.399 --> 00:31:50.279
 occupying

00:31:50.279 --> 00:31:51.299
 enemies

00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:52.359
 but

00:31:52.359 --> 00:31:52.699
 he

00:31:52.699 --> 00:31:52.959
 was

00:31:52.959 --> 00:31:53.359
 the

00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:53.739
 savior

00:31:53.739 --> 00:31:53.959
 for

00:31:53.959 --> 00:31:54.159
 all

00:31:54.159 --> 00:31:54.579
 mankind

00:31:54.579 --> 00:31:56.219
 that

00:31:56.219 --> 00:31:56.399
 his

00:31:56.399 --> 00:31:56.699
 death

00:31:56.699 --> 00:31:56.899
 on

00:31:56.899 --> 00:31:57.039
 the

00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:57.439
 cross

00:31:57.439 --> 00:31:57.939
 tore

00:31:57.939 --> 00:31:58.899
 the

00:31:58.899 --> 00:31:59.979
 separating

00:31:59.979 --> 00:32:00.439
 barrier

00:32:00.439 --> 00:32:00.799
 between

00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:01.219
 us

00:32:01.219 --> 00:32:01.699
 and

00:32:01.699 --> 00:32:01.939
 you

00:32:01.939 --> 00:32:02.839
 Lord

00:32:02.839 --> 00:32:03.159
 let us

00:32:03.159 --> 00:32:03.359
 live

00:32:03.359 --> 00:32:03.559
 into

00:32:03.559 --> 00:32:03.739
 that

00:32:03.739 --> 00:32:03.939
 every

00:32:03.939 --> 00:32:04.159
 day

00:32:04.159 --> 00:32:04.379
 by

00:32:04.379 --> 00:32:04.559
 your

00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:04.839
 spirit

00:32:04.839 --> 00:32:05.000
 in

00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:05.219
 Jesus

00:32:05.219 --> 00:32:05.500
 name

00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:05.819
 Amen