WEBVTT

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

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 Our passion is to experience and express grace.

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 Join us.

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 Go ahead and deal with something up front.

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 My son said that I'm way too stripy today and my shirt is very ugly.

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 So if it offends you, I'm just going to go ahead and apologize to everyone involved here.

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 Amen.

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 Thank you.

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 Adriana, you always have an amen for me.

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 I love you.

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 So we get to pick up in John chapter 9 today.

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 But one of the things that Will mentioned a few weeks ago was that one of the things he's most afraid of in the dark.

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 Remember what he said?

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 Remember what his greatest fear is in a dark room?

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 Stepping on Legos.

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 So after he said that, I came across this video and it was just, somebody made that into a game.

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 It's just too good not to show.

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 So I thought we could start there.

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 I think he gets it twice here.

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 Yeah.

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 Had to, right?

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 Had to.

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 So what I like about that is that in order to win the game, you have to avoid the pain.

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 And I know it's pretty funny.

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 It's pretty funny to watch that, right?

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 But none of us like pain, right?

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 This morning, like, I woke up, my back was seized up from stretching, I think.

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 And I wasn't sure I was going to get out of bed.

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 And I had AC help me up.

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 But I would have done anything to avoid that pain.

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 I wasn't even sure I was going to get my shoes on for a while today.

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 And Bill assures me that this is the beginning.

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 He actually laughed when I told him that.

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 He just started laughing out loud like a maniacal laugh.

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 Just wait, Derek.

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 Just wait.

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 But we'll do anything to avoid pain.

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 And one of the worst pains is the pain that we feel when we've lost somebody.

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 And it's interesting.

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 I read this article recently.

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 And they are using AI technology now to help people cope with grief.

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 And I don't know what I think about it, but it's coming.

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 So here's some examples.

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 There's one company called Hereafter AI.

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 They use, people record answers to interview questions.

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 And they upload photos while they're still alive.

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 And then they leave behind a virtual version of themselves.

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 Then there's StoryFile, which is pre-planned, but a user can record videos of themselves that are turned into AI-powered interactive conversations for loved ones.

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 So it actually creates a version of you that you can interact with.

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 And then some of these personas you actually text with.

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 And people don't know what to do with it, especially some psychologists saying this actually might be counterproductive.

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 But then YouOnlyVirtual is an AI communications platform.

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 It says they let users create a persona that they can actually continue their relationships virtually after death.

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 So we want to avoid pain.

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 And we will do anything we can to try to avoid it.

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 And pain and suffering are some of the most common objections to the existence of God.

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 And, like, how can a good God exist if bad things happen?

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 If God is love, then why is there suffering in the world?

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 And these are serious questions.

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 And in this passage today, Jesus actually deals with that.

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 It jumps right into that.

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 So before we take a look at it, a little bit of background.

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 Remember what's happened right before this.

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 We went through this last week.

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 Jesus has just evaded being attacked or stoned to death in the temple.

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 Because he had just said those words, before Abraham was, I am.

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 This was considered blasphemy by the Jewish authorities.

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 So they pick up stones to kill him.

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 And he was claiming to be God.

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 And so he escapes.

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 And he and his disciples are leaving the temple.

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 And that's where this picks up.

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 So they're on their way out.

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 And they see a man born blind.

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 And in history, if you were blind or you had an ailment during this time,

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 you couldn't really make money unless you were begging.

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 And so most people with ailments or someone particularly blind in this passage from birth

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 would be there asking for money for generous people coming out of the temple.

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 So that's where this picks up.

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 So let's jump in and read this together.

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 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.

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 And his disciples asked him,

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 Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?

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 Jesus answered,

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 It was not that this man sinned or his parents,

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 but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

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 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day.

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 Night is coming when no one can work.

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 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

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 Having said these things, he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva.

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 Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him,

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 Go wash in the pool of Siloam, which means scent.

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 So he went and washed and came back seeing.

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 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying,

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 Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?

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 Some said it is he.

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 Others said no, but he's like him.

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 He kept saying, I am the man.

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 So they said to him,

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 Then how were your eyes opened?

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 He answered,

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 The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me,

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 Go to Siloam and wash.

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 So I went and washed and received my sight.

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 They said to him,

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 Where is he?

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 He said,

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 I do not know.

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 So Jesus and his disciples leave the temple.

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 And as they pass by this man who was born blind from birth,

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 The disciples ask,

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 Rabbi, who sinned?

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 This man or his parents that he was born blind?

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 So the first thing we look at here is this question.

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 Okay?

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 You see in verses 1 and 2.

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 Why would they ask this question?

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 Doesn't that seem odd?

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 A guy won't pass by someone and say,

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 Well, whose fault is that that this person has this condition?

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 Well, some rabbis of the time,

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 And rabbi meant teacher, remember?

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 They actually taught that it was possible to sin before birth.

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 So if you were born and you sinned before birth,

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 Then you were born with a condition.

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 So it would have been a very valid theological question

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 For them to ask their rabbi,

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 Jesus, their teacher.

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 And if you really think about it,

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 We do a very similar thing today.

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 In a little bit of a different way.

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 Have you ever had a week,

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 Hard week,

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 Or situation

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 In your life,

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 And you thought to yourself,

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 Have I done something to cause this?

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 Did I do something wrong?

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 Is the universe against me?

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 Let's put it into Christianese.

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 Did I not read or pray enough this week?

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 Is God mad at me?

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 Because all of these things came out of nowhere.

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 Am I under spiritual attack?

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 Because I didn't do something?

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 The Christian way?

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 So this thought process runs really deep in our culture.

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 But if you think about the flip side of that,

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 It's this.

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 If things are going well,

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 Then me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me.

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 Right?

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 I must have done something really, really good to deserve this.

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 Goes something like this.

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 I work hard for this money,

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 This house,

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 This life,

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 You fill in the blank,

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 Therefore you should,

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 Whatever.

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 Therefore I deserve,

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 I deserve this.

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 What's the problem with this?

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 It can lead to a very, very self-righteous and prideful way of living.

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 Especially if we do that in the church.

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 Ouch.

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 What's that say about Jesus?

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 We will take credit for the good things,

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 But we want someone or something to blame for the bad things that don't go our way.

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 So here's the other problem with that line of thinking.

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 It's just not true.

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 Okay?

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 There are plenty of good people who live miserable lives.

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 And plenty of people who do horrible things,

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 Grow old,

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 Live long lives,

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 And die peacefully in their sleep.

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 So,

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 What do we do then with suffering?

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 Okay?

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 Why suffering?

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 That's what the disciples are asking here.

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 Why is suffering existing in this situation?

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 And typical responses are anger or guilt.

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 Sometimes it's a combination of the two.

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 So,

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 You might get mad at someone or something,

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 Because you need something to blame,

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 To give you some credence for the situation you're in.

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 But sometimes that can flip,

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 And you say,

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 Well, I'm the problem.

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 And I feel guilty about what I've done wrong.

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 And you just blame yourself for all these things.

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 And you end up in a spiral.

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 But even though we may have a good theology,

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 You may consider yourself one who has a good theology,

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 And a strong faith.

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 You know what?

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 We're still tempted to believe lies.

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 Like,

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 Does God really love me?

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 Or has he abandoned me?

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 Or is that what causes all of these bad things in my life that go wrong?

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 And that can play out into how we talk to people who are in a hard situation.

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 Where we could heap anger on them.

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 Or we could gang up and say,

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 Oh yeah,

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 That is the problem.

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 Or,

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 Heap guilt upon them unknowingly.

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 But when we're just trying to help.

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 You see this in Job's friends and scriptures, right?

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 They just make it worse.

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 But they really were trying to help.

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 Tim Keller breaks it down into these two categories.

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 That when we deal with suffering and we don't know what to do,

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 We typically say,

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 I hate thee,

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 Or I hate me.

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 We get mad at God,

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 Or we get mad at ourselves,

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 And we hold it inside.

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 So,

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 What does Jesus say in his answer here?

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 In verses 3 through 5,

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 Jesus answered,

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 It was not that this man sinned,

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 Or his parents,

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 But that the works of God might be displayed in him.

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 And then he almost paused there.

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 So,

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 What does he say there?

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 It's a little bit mysterious one.

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 And suffering itself is mysterious.

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 But one thing that we can say is said here,

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 Is that Jesus is teaching that God is still at work in suffering.

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 Okay?

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 For his good,

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 And for ours.

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 So,

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 When we're suffering,

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 God has,

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 He hasn't turned his back on us.

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 Okay?

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 He's not forgotten us.

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 And specifically,

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 Jesus says here,

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 That it's not the fault of the blind man,

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 Or even the blind man's parents.

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 Now,

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 There's another account in Luke chapter 13,

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 At the very beginning,

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 Where Jesus is asked a similar question.

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 There's a tower,

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 Ironically,

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 In Siloam,

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 That had fallen on some people,

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 And killed them.

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 And,

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 He's asked the question,

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 Basically,

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 Did they die,

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 And not the people,

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 Around there,

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 Because they were worse sinners?

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 Is that why those people died?

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 Again,

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 Very similar question.

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 And Jesus levels the playing field there too.

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 And He says,

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 Apart from repenting,

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 As Bill explained earlier,

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 Right?

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 Turning around,

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 And turning to God.

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 Apart from that,

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 And being saved by God's love,

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 We all deserve a tower to fall on us.

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 As far as our merit.

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 And again,

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 In Job,

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 We learn that the suffering wasn't because of something he did,

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 That he caused.

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 So,

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 What does,

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 Though,

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 The Bible say about suffering?

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 Because you bring in here different theologies,

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 From wherever you come from.

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 So,

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 I'm just going to consider right now,

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 Two ways that the Bible speaks about it.

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 So,

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 Take it,

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 Put it through your computer,

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 However you process it,

00:13:12.939 --> 00:13:13.759
 And do what you will with it.

00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:15.580
 But I'm just going to look at it from that angle for a moment.

00:13:15.580 --> 00:13:18.100
 And there's two possible ways of looking at suffering.

00:13:18.460 --> 00:13:19.100
 There's more than that,

00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:20.399
 But this morning we'll look at two.

00:13:20.860 --> 00:13:22.299
 There's general suffering,

00:13:22.299 --> 00:13:23.959
 And there's specific suffering.

00:13:25.099 --> 00:13:25.279
 Okay,

00:13:25.399 --> 00:13:26.339
 General suffering,

00:13:26.979 --> 00:13:28.279
 Here's what the scripture says about it.

00:13:28.319 --> 00:13:30.639
 That the suffering clock started to tick,

00:13:31.139 --> 00:13:33.579
 When death entered the world for the first time.

00:13:34.439 --> 00:13:36.079
 And do you all remember where that took place?

00:13:37.079 --> 00:13:37.399
 Anybody?

00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:37.519
 Anybody?

00:13:38.199 --> 00:13:39.159
 Just yell it out.

00:13:40.019 --> 00:13:40.519
 Garden.

00:13:40.679 --> 00:13:42.359
 The Garden of Eden in the creation account.

00:13:43.199 --> 00:13:43.359
 Okay.

00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:45.700
 Romans 5.12

00:13:45.700 --> 00:13:47.560
 Says that,

00:13:47.879 --> 00:13:47.899
 Therefore,

00:13:48.100 --> 00:13:50.980
 Just as sin came into the world through one man,

00:13:51.560 --> 00:13:51.860
 Adam,

00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:54.139
 And death through sin,

00:13:54.220 --> 00:13:55.560
 That was the punishment for it.

00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:56.120
 So,

00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:57.600
 Death spread to all men,

00:13:58.080 --> 00:13:59.120
 Because all sinned.

00:13:59.940 --> 00:14:00.300
 Okay.

00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:04.820
 That's when the general suffering clock started to tick.

00:14:05.379 --> 00:14:06.879
 In that sense,

00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:09.500
 Everybody is born into a world of death,

00:14:09.960 --> 00:14:10.580
 Brokenness,

00:14:11.680 --> 00:14:12.000
 Darkness,

00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:13.340
 Suffering.

00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:14.240
 Okay,

00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:15.159
 So it's not that,

00:14:15.740 --> 00:14:17.460
 You did worse than me,

00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:18.480
 Or I did worse than you.

00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:20.580
 We are all born into that in a general sense.

00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:22.180
 This world is broken.

00:14:22.340 --> 00:14:23.360
 If you haven't noticed it,

00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:23.620
 Then,

00:14:24.300 --> 00:14:26.060
 Then you probably will one day.

00:14:26.440 --> 00:14:27.600
 At one point in time,

00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:30.680
 You will see the shalom shattered in your own life,

00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:32.200
 As Dan Allender refers to it.

00:14:33.060 --> 00:14:34.220
 Usually through an event,

00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:35.899
 Or something hard that happens,

00:14:36.019 --> 00:14:38.840
 And the world just kind of just doesn't make sense like it used to.

00:14:38.940 --> 00:14:39.120
 So,

00:14:39.680 --> 00:14:40.659
 Here's the other side of it.

00:14:40.740 --> 00:14:41.879
 God didn't originally,

00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:44.899
 Create the world for suffering in it.

00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:48.019
 The world actually started as a paradise.

00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:50.220
 And that's what's still in us.

00:14:50.220 --> 00:14:50.980
 That's what we want.

00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:53.919
 When the human race turned against God,

00:14:53.980 --> 00:14:54.860
 Though in the Garden of Eden,

00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:57.139
 Started believing lies about who he was,

00:14:57.679 --> 00:14:58.340
 His authority,

00:14:59.139 --> 00:15:00.279
 Questioning his truth,

00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:01.939
 That's when it started to break.

00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:04.360
 And that's when death entered,

00:15:04.899 --> 00:15:06.379
 And that's when suffering was born.

00:15:06.379 --> 00:15:11.460
 And we shouldn't think that we're not going to be tempted to believe lies about suffering either.

00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:13.860
 Especially when we're in it.

00:15:13.939 --> 00:15:15.139
 Or lies about God.

00:15:16.259 --> 00:15:16.500
 So,

00:15:16.899 --> 00:15:17.559
 In general,

00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:18.840
 Sin in general,

00:15:19.480 --> 00:15:21.539
 Causes suffering in general.

00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:23.820
 But Jesus goes deeper here.

00:15:24.259 --> 00:15:25.980
 He takes it into a specific area.

00:15:27.460 --> 00:15:28.799
 He doesn't link,

00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:30.659
 Let's go back to what he said.

00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:33.719
 He doesn't link an individual suffering here,

00:15:33.719 --> 00:15:35.600
 To their individual sins,

00:15:35.659 --> 00:15:37.579
 Or even their parents' individual sins.

00:15:38.579 --> 00:15:39.059
 You see,

00:15:39.659 --> 00:15:40.899
 In Luke 13,

00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:41.740
 Where the tower fell,

00:15:42.319 --> 00:15:43.299
 God rejects it there.

00:15:43.699 --> 00:15:44.719
 At the end of Job,

00:15:45.419 --> 00:15:46.539
 God rejects that notion.

00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:47.019
 And Jesus,

00:15:47.179 --> 00:15:47.659
 Again here,

00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:48.740
 Rejects that notion,

00:15:49.219 --> 00:15:50.659
 That it is your fault right now,

00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:52.519
 Everything that happens to you that's bad.

00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:53.079
 Generally,

00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:55.600
 It's the fault of sin.

00:15:55.779 --> 00:15:56.600
 But specifically,

00:15:57.299 --> 00:15:58.319
 Put your name on it.

00:15:58.379 --> 00:16:00.159
 Did you do something to make God mad today,

00:16:00.220 --> 00:16:01.100
 And now he's punishing you?

00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:03.639
 That's not what the Bible teaches,

00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:05.240
 According to Jesus in this verse.

00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:06.919
 So,

00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:08.579
 We don't,

00:16:09.059 --> 00:16:09.699
 Here's the other thing.

00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:11.779
 We don't know all the ins and outs about suffering.

00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:15.179
 I won't even begin to act like I do.

00:16:15.579 --> 00:16:17.319
 And I've had a lot of it in our life.

00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:18.139
 And I know you have too.

00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:18.319
 So,

00:16:18.379 --> 00:16:19.259
 If you're in it right now,

00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:22.019
 I'm not trying to like make your pain go away.

00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:23.500
 I'm trying to let,

00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:24.120
 Hopefully,

00:16:24.319 --> 00:16:25.679
 Offer a little bit of comfort.

00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:26.720
 That though,

00:16:26.819 --> 00:16:29.319
 Though there's a mysterious component to suffering,

00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:32.439
 God has not forgotten you.

00:16:33.259 --> 00:16:33.500
 Okay?

00:16:34.340 --> 00:16:36.639
 There is a mystery in it.

00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:37.860
 But,

00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:39.159
 According to the words of Jesus,

00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:41.539
 God is actually working it for good.

00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:42.179
 Okay?

00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:43.919
 A better good for you,

00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:46.620
 And a glorifying good for him.

00:16:47.799 --> 00:16:49.419
 Showing that he is the place,

00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:50.960
 And the solution,

00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:53.100
 For all suffering.

00:16:53.700 --> 00:16:56.680
 And I hope that that frees you a little bit where you are.

00:16:56.680 --> 00:16:57.519
 In some way.

00:16:57.660 --> 00:16:59.320
 Because it's not going to take away the hurt,

00:16:59.400 --> 00:16:59.780
 I know.

00:17:00.420 --> 00:17:02.639
 But I hope that it does comfort you in some way.

00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:07.100
 Because his reply means that we don't have to find somebody to blame for our suffering.

00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:09.559
 We don't have to be mad at somebody.

00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:12.380
 We don't have to know every single answer about it.

00:17:12.860 --> 00:17:14.100
 We don't have to feel guilty.

00:17:14.099 --> 00:17:18.299
 We don't have to pin it on somebody else as a way to cope.

00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:20.559
 We can rest in a greater mystery.

00:17:20.819 --> 00:17:22.899
 And trust that God holds that mystery.

00:17:23.379 --> 00:17:28.299
 And we can acknowledge the mystery that God is present in our pain.

00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:30.699
 And we don't have to have the rest of the answers.

00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:32.740
 And from our perspective,

00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:38.080
 He's in the process of working beauty out of this broken thing.

00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:41.319
 But from his perspective, which is eternal,

00:17:42.120 --> 00:17:45.180
 He's actually working death in reverse.

00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:48.340
 For those who are in Christ.

00:17:49.600 --> 00:17:49.920
 Alright?

00:17:50.600 --> 00:17:52.539
 He's making all things new.

00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:53.920
 So we don't have to say,

00:17:54.059 --> 00:17:54.559
 I hate thee,

00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:56.220
 Or I hate me.

00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:59.120
 In fact, Jesus is pointing us to,

00:17:59.240 --> 00:18:01.640
 Well, that's foolish because neither one of those are the answer.

00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:05.819
 So general sin causes general suffering.

00:18:05.980 --> 00:18:09.600
 But particular sin doesn't necessarily cause particular suffering.

00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:12.819
 And then let's look at verses 4 and 5 here.

00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:16.620
 We must work the works of Him who sent me while it's day.

00:18:17.140 --> 00:18:19.319
 Night is coming when no one can work.

00:18:19.819 --> 00:18:21.160
 As long as I'm in the world,

00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:23.620
 I am the light of the world.

00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:25.440
 So the disciples,

00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:26.860
 Can you imagine the look on their face?

00:18:26.920 --> 00:18:27.860
 They're asking their teacher,

00:18:28.940 --> 00:18:29.740
 Who sinned?

00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:31.360
 They want a theological answer.

00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:32.380
 Okay?

00:18:32.920 --> 00:18:34.559
 Well, whose fault was it on this one?

00:18:34.600 --> 00:18:35.039
 And Jesus is like,

00:18:35.080 --> 00:18:35.279
 Neither.

00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:36.640
 He looks at them,

00:18:36.860 --> 00:18:37.160
 Neither.

00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:38.380
 I'm the light of the world.

00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:39.360
 Let's go do the works of the Father.

00:18:40.940 --> 00:18:41.940
 And can you see them like,

00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:44.000
 Well, what do I write on the test though, Jesus?

00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:44.960
 Like,

00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:46.980
 And he just,

00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:49.660
 He gives them a classic Jesus juke

00:18:49.660 --> 00:18:51.500
 after he Jesus juke out of the temple.

00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:53.640
 And he says,

00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:54.519
 I'm the light of the world.

00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:56.600
 And what does that mean?

00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:58.920
 That's the second of his,

00:18:59.160 --> 00:19:01.380
 Jesus' metaphorical I am statements.

00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:03.779
 And as the light of the world,

00:19:03.840 --> 00:19:05.860
 It means he's the one that's shining life

00:19:05.860 --> 00:19:08.880
 into this world of brokenness and darkness.

00:19:08.920 --> 00:19:10.580
 That he's actually the only true light.

00:19:11.340 --> 00:19:13.960
 And that light is the knowledge of the glory of God

00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:16.220
 as seen in the face of Christ Jesus,

00:19:16.420 --> 00:19:17.240
 as the scriptures say.

00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:19.240
 And then the word day is used there.

00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:22.059
 And that's to refer to Jesus' time on earth,

00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:23.839
 his earthly ministry.

00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:26.779
 Which means that night then is foreshadowing

00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:28.259
 his future suffering,

00:19:28.660 --> 00:19:30.180
 which would be his death on the cross.

00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:31.819
 And until then,

00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:33.180
 he's saying,

00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:34.660
 he and his disciples

00:19:34.660 --> 00:19:36.279
 are supposed to fulfill

00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:38.279
 everything that God has given them to do.

00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:40.740
 The climax of which would be

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:42.460
 his death on the cross.

00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:44.060
 Followed then

00:19:44.060 --> 00:19:45.980
 by the resurrection from the dead,

00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:48.000
 his ascension back to heaven,

00:19:48.440 --> 00:19:50.920
 after which he sends the Holy Spirit here.

00:19:51.640 --> 00:19:54.180
 And that's how he's present with us now

00:19:54.180 --> 00:19:55.640
 in our suffering

00:19:55.640 --> 00:19:57.080
 and in our pain.

00:19:57.079 --> 00:19:58.960
 And then,

00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:00.480
 we get to look at the miracle

00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:02.399
 in verses 6 and 7.

00:20:03.659 --> 00:20:04.919
 Having said these things,

00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.460
 he spit on the ground

00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:08.460
 and he made mud with saliva

00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:11.099
 and then he anointed the man's eyes

00:20:11.099 --> 00:20:11.740
 with the mud

00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:12.879
 and he said to him,

00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:14.539
 go wash in the pool of Siloam,

00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:16.919
 which means sent.

00:20:17.299 --> 00:20:18.079
 So he went

00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:19.419
 and he washed

00:20:19.419 --> 00:20:20.480
 and came back seeing.

00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:23.500
 This echoes

00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:25.319
 creation account.

00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:26.960
 You hear it in there.

00:20:27.319 --> 00:20:27.859
 The Lord God

00:20:27.859 --> 00:20:28.859
 formed the man dust

00:20:28.859 --> 00:20:29.539
 from the ground

00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:30.879
 and breathed into his nostrils

00:20:30.879 --> 00:20:31.740
 the breath of life

00:20:31.740 --> 00:20:33.159
 and the man became

00:20:33.159 --> 00:20:34.539
 a living creature.

00:20:36.399 --> 00:20:37.439
 Notice he says,

00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:40.460
 he anointed the man's eyes.

00:20:41.679 --> 00:20:42.259
 Much like,

00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:43.159
 you remember anointing,

00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:43.419
 they would,

00:20:44.199 --> 00:20:45.519
 they didn't have shampoo

00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.220
 so they would like

00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:47.359
 put perfume on people,

00:20:47.439 --> 00:20:48.139
 you remember back then,

00:20:48.179 --> 00:20:48.759
 to smell good

00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:50.439
 and let it run down their beard.

00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:52.639
 God's grace

00:20:52.639 --> 00:20:54.319
 runs over here.

00:20:55.379 --> 00:20:55.659
 Right?

00:20:55.660 --> 00:20:57.120
 It overflows

00:20:57.120 --> 00:20:58.220
 first to this man

00:20:58.220 --> 00:20:59.140
 who's born blind

00:20:59.140 --> 00:21:00.660
 and then from there

00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:01.779
 it would overflow to others

00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:02.980
 even to us right now

00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:04.519
 as we talk about it.

00:21:05.120 --> 00:21:06.120
 So Jesus here,

00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:07.580
 he's pushed pause

00:21:07.580 --> 00:21:09.200
 on the decay,

00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:11.380
 the death cycle,

00:21:12.180 --> 00:21:13.240
 left by sin

00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:14.080
 in this world of suffering.

00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:16.259
 And then you see him

00:21:16.259 --> 00:21:17.759
 supernaturally reverse

00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:18.600
 that curse

00:21:18.600 --> 00:21:19.820
 of death and decay

00:21:19.820 --> 00:21:20.620
 just for a moment.

00:21:20.619 --> 00:21:23.079
 and then he gives us

00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:24.179
 a glimpse right now

00:21:24.179 --> 00:21:25.519
 into what the kingdom

00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:26.979
 of heaven actually is like.

00:21:27.879 --> 00:21:29.459
 Where there's always light,

00:21:30.299 --> 00:21:31.179
 where there's always

00:21:31.179 --> 00:21:31.919
 true knowledge

00:21:31.919 --> 00:21:33.279
 and sight of him,

00:21:33.959 --> 00:21:35.179
 where there is no death,

00:21:35.619 --> 00:21:36.799
 where there is no suffering.

00:21:37.399 --> 00:21:38.719
 And until we are there,

00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:39.239
 he says,

00:21:39.399 --> 00:21:40.719
 let's go do that now.

00:21:41.659 --> 00:21:43.339
 Because until he comes back,

00:21:43.399 --> 00:21:44.379
 he sends us

00:21:44.379 --> 00:21:46.759
 to be that to others.

00:21:47.480 --> 00:21:49.859
 We are no condemnation people.

00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:52.019
 We now serve righteousness.

00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.500
 We serve Christ

00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:54.759
 and we do it in his spirit.

00:21:55.480 --> 00:21:56.140
 But the healing

00:21:56.140 --> 00:21:56.900
 isn't complete.

00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:58.220
 Right?

00:21:58.259 --> 00:21:58.539
 He says,

00:21:58.579 --> 00:21:58.980
 you've got to go

00:21:58.980 --> 00:21:59.759
 to the Pool of Siloam

00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:00.220
 and wash,

00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:00.900
 which he does.

00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:02.079
 And probably,

00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:03.599
 the Pool of Siloam

00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:04.500
 is what actually

00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:06.160
 provided the water

00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:06.960
 for the water ritual

00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:07.660
 we talked about

00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:08.599
 a few weeks ago.

00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.400
 And this would still

00:22:09.400 --> 00:22:09.920
 probably have been

00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:10.579
 the last day

00:22:10.579 --> 00:22:11.299
 of that festival,

00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:13.359
 the Feast of Booths.

00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:14.279
 So,

00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:15.720
 if we're in him though,

00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:16.059
 remember,

00:22:16.059 --> 00:22:17.379
 he's flowing to you

00:22:17.379 --> 00:22:18.839
 and then through you

00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:19.480
 to others.

00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:19.720
 So,

00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:20.899
 what's the response then?

00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:23.179
 Well,

00:22:23.220 --> 00:22:23.759
 the neighbors

00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:25.899
 and those who had seen him

00:22:25.899 --> 00:22:26.899
 before as a beggar

00:22:26.899 --> 00:22:27.299
 were saying,

00:22:27.379 --> 00:22:28.440
 is this not the man

00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:30.919
 who used to sit and beg?

00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:31.599
 Some said,

00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:32.000
 is he?

00:22:32.099 --> 00:22:32.519
 Others said,

00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:32.779
 no,

00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:33.519
 but he's like him.

00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:34.159
 He kept saying,

00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:35.099
 I am the man.

00:22:35.639 --> 00:22:35.879
 So,

00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:36.619
 they said to him,

00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:38.259
 then how are your eyes opened?

00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:39.839
 And he answered,

00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:40.940
 the man called Jesus,

00:22:41.059 --> 00:22:41.559
 made mud,

00:22:41.619 --> 00:22:42.339
 he anointed my eyes,

00:22:42.379 --> 00:22:42.899
 he said to me,

00:22:42.940 --> 00:22:44.399
 go to the Pool of Siloam

00:22:44.399 --> 00:22:44.799
 and wash.

00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:44.919
 So,

00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:45.500
 I went and watched,

00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:46.200
 received my sight.

00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:46.759
 They said to him,

00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:47.180
 where is he?

00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:47.359
 He said,

00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:48.019
 I don't know.

00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:51.079
 Do you see them?

00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:53.220
 I want answers right now.

00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:53.740
 And,

00:22:53.819 --> 00:22:54.859
 Will will pick up

00:22:54.859 --> 00:22:55.720
 with the rest of this

00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:56.400
 next week,

00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:56.920
 but I'll tell you,

00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:57.920
 this causes a lot

00:22:57.920 --> 00:22:58.559
 of controversy.

00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.299
 It gets him thrown

00:22:59.299 --> 00:22:59.920
 out of the temple,

00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.779
 it gets his parents

00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:01.279
 in trouble,

00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:02.279
 and then eventually

00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:03.180
 he just leaves,

00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:04.420
 and Jesus comes

00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:05.059
 and finds him.

00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:05.359
 He's like,

00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:05.519
 hey,

00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:05.980
 I'm the guy

00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:06.400
 who healed you,

00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:07.259
 and then he worships him.

00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:11.240
 What I love about this,

00:23:11.299 --> 00:23:11.420
 though,

00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:12.379
 is Jesus has just

00:23:12.379 --> 00:23:13.259
 escaped attack

00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:15.519
 because they're so mad

00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:16.460
 him claiming to be God,

00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:17.019
 so he sends him

00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:17.859
 a little thank you note

00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:19.000
 in the form of a man

00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:19.640
 born blind,

00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:20.819
 walks in,

00:23:21.079 --> 00:23:21.339
 healed.

00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:23.160
 Imagine how mad

00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:23.539
 they were.

00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:24.879
 They first didn't kill Jesus,

00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:25.700
 and then he sends back

00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:26.379
 someone he healed

00:23:26.379 --> 00:23:27.960
 because they're wrong.

00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:30.619
 He is who he says he is,

00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:31.819
 and he sends that to them.

00:23:31.879 --> 00:23:32.019
 Hold on,

00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:32.779
 I've got to get a drink real quick.

00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:35.059
 Sorry.

00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:37.059
 Today's sermon is brought

00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:37.839
 to you by Agua.

00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:38.559
 All right.

00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:39.539
 So,

00:23:40.019 --> 00:23:41.559
 where are we?

00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:43.200
 Wouldn't you love for Jesus

00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:44.440
 to walk up to you

00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:46.799
 and tell you where you

00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:47.700
 could go to be healed

00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:50.539
 of your deepest wound?

00:23:50.859 --> 00:23:52.339
 What would that be?

00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:53.779
 Just yell it out.

00:23:53.859 --> 00:23:54.240
 I'm just kidding.

00:23:55.420 --> 00:23:56.680
 The blind man

00:23:56.680 --> 00:23:58.139
 is teaching us

00:23:58.139 --> 00:23:59.099
 of an important lesson here.

00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:00.759
 There's only one place

00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:02.500
 to truly find

00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:03.400
 ultimate healing,

00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:05.000
 and it's the place he did,

00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:06.339
 and he didn't find it

00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:07.259
 because of anything he did.

00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:08.500
 Right?

00:24:09.420 --> 00:24:10.380
 But that's Jesus.

00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:12.220
 Consider that lesson.

00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:13.559
 So,

00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:16.500
 I'm going to do an experiment.

00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:18.000
 Henry Fenton,

00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:19.900
 would you join me

00:24:19.900 --> 00:24:20.819
 on the stage, please, sir?

00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:22.599
 I love this guy.

00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:23.099
 Okay.

00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:25.000
 Object lesson here.

00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:29.519
 I also need you

00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:30.559
 to take your shoes off, Henry.

00:24:33.140 --> 00:24:34.680
 There's some broken glass here.

00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:37.680
 We probably need

00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:38.759
 more broken glass, though.

00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:44.759
 You can keep your socks on

00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:45.119
 if you want.

00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:46.500
 It'll suck up the blood.

00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:48.160
 Okay.

00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:50.319
 So,

00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:51.539
 let's try to get this.

00:24:58.880 --> 00:24:59.680
 There we go.

00:24:59.680 --> 00:24:59.720
 There we go.

00:24:59.720 --> 00:24:59.759
 There we go.

00:24:59.759 --> 00:24:59.799
 There we go.

00:24:59.799 --> 00:25:01.720
 There we go.

00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:02.839
 All right.

00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:03.839
 Is that glass?

00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:04.839
 That's glass.

00:25:04.900 --> 00:25:05.460
 Broken glass.

00:25:05.539 --> 00:25:05.799
 All right.

00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:07.860
 You stand over there,

00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:08.240
 my friend.

00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:08.779
 Well, first,

00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:09.200
 first,

00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:13.200
 can you walk around the glass?

00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:14.160
 Can you walk to me

00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:14.880
 without stepping

00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:15.880
 on the broken glass?

00:25:16.579 --> 00:25:17.079
 Right now?

00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:17.980
 Yeah, just do it.

00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:18.960
 Just prove it.

00:25:19.160 --> 00:25:19.819
 I don't believe you.

00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:22.500
 Wow, you got really close there.

00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:22.940
 Yeah.

00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:23.480
 Yeah.

00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:24.980
 Okay, let's go back.

00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:25.900
 A piece of glass?

00:25:26.140 --> 00:25:27.120
 Yeah, I tried to keep it.

00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:28.360
 No kids on the stage

00:25:28.360 --> 00:25:28.940
 after this.

00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:29.220
 Okay.

00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:31.299
 So, go back over there now.

00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:35.039
 Will you put this blindfold on?

00:25:39.180 --> 00:25:41.600
 This decorative designer blindfold?

00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:43.420
 Okay.

00:25:44.620 --> 00:25:45.920
 Would you trust me

00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:47.759
 to lead you?

00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:50.600
 I'm going to get this

00:25:50.600 --> 00:25:52.579
 all squared away for you.

00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:54.220
 All right.

00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:54.799
 That's good.

00:25:54.940 --> 00:25:55.200
 That's good.

00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:56.360
 Would you trust me

00:25:56.360 --> 00:25:56.720
 to lead you?

00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:58.819
 Okay.

00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:01.380
 Take one step forward.

00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:04.319
 One step forward.

00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:05.559
 No, no, no, no, no, no.

00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:05.960
 Stop.

00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:07.079
 Right.

00:26:08.440 --> 00:26:08.620
 Right.

00:26:08.620 --> 00:26:09.279
 One step right.

00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:11.440
 Right.

00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:13.279
 Forward.

00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:14.740
 Don't put your foot down.

00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:15.700
 Forward.

00:26:17.339 --> 00:26:17.700
 Straight.

00:26:18.600 --> 00:26:19.180
 Keep walking.

00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:21.200
 Open those eyes.

00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:23.039
 Good job,

00:26:23.100 --> 00:26:23.920
 the glasses over there.

00:26:24.360 --> 00:26:24.900
 You're all okay,

00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:25.400
 and I love you.

00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:27.060
 You can go back to your seat,

00:26:27.140 --> 00:26:28.500
 and you can keep this blind flesh.

00:26:28.560 --> 00:26:29.019
 Actually, it's Angela,

00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:30.940
 so if she'll let you keep it.

00:26:32.019 --> 00:26:32.259
 Okay.

00:26:35.420 --> 00:26:35.820
 So,

00:26:36.820 --> 00:26:39.040
 when his eyes,

00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:40.480
 when he wasn't looking

00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:41.680
 at what was going on,

00:26:42.320 --> 00:26:43.519
 what did he have to do?

00:26:44.580 --> 00:26:45.720
 He had to listen, yeah?

00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:48.500
 So,

00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:49.319
 we don't lose heart.

00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.420
 Though our outer self

00:26:51.420 --> 00:26:52.339
 is wasting away,

00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:52.940
 our inner self

00:26:52.940 --> 00:26:53.539
 is being renewed

00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:54.259
 day by day,

00:26:54.779 --> 00:26:55.839
 for this light,

00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:56.799
 momentary affliction

00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:57.799
 is preparing for us

00:26:57.799 --> 00:26:58.960
 an eternal weight of glory

00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:00.360
 far beyond all comparison

00:27:00.360 --> 00:27:00.900
 while we look

00:27:00.900 --> 00:27:01.539
 not at the things

00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:02.180
 that are seen,

00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:03.480
 but the things

00:27:03.480 --> 00:27:04.200
 that are unseen

00:27:04.200 --> 00:27:04.860
 are not seen.

00:27:04.940 --> 00:27:05.740
 The things that are seen

00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:06.380
 are transient

00:27:06.380 --> 00:27:06.940
 or temporary,

00:27:07.100 --> 00:27:07.519
 but the things

00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:08.339
 that are not seen

00:27:08.339 --> 00:27:09.579
 are eternal.

00:27:09.579 --> 00:27:11.199
 So,

00:27:11.319 --> 00:27:11.939
 sometimes,

00:27:12.659 --> 00:27:13.279
 suffering

00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:14.339
 is when we hear

00:27:14.339 --> 00:27:15.879
 God's voice the loudest,

00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:17.639
 because we have to.

00:27:18.639 --> 00:27:19.319
 But I want you

00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:19.799
 to remember this.

00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:20.799
 Here's why this matters.

00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:23.980
 Nothing in our story

00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:24.559
 is wasted.

00:27:26.059 --> 00:27:26.839
 I had lunch

00:27:26.839 --> 00:27:27.759
 with someone this week.

00:27:28.039 --> 00:27:29.000
 They reminded me of this.

00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:29.720
 They were born

00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:31.240
 with a condition,

00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:34.519
 and they read this passage,

00:27:34.619 --> 00:27:35.000
 and they said,

00:27:35.079 --> 00:27:35.899
 what gives me encouragement

00:27:35.899 --> 00:27:36.779
 is I know that nothing

00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:37.759
 in my story is wasted,

00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:38.519
 and they've seen God

00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:39.500
 use their story now

00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:40.319
 to help other people.

00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:43.839
 But they have to trust Him.

00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:44.779
 They have to listen.

00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:46.680
 And Jesus meets us

00:27:46.680 --> 00:27:47.700
 in our suffering, too.

00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:48.779
 Okay?

00:27:49.140 --> 00:27:50.119
 And He can open

00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:51.140
 our eyes of faith,

00:27:51.779 --> 00:27:53.559
 because we walk by faith,

00:27:54.380 --> 00:27:55.259
 not by sight,

00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:56.640
 as the Scriptures say.

00:27:57.119 --> 00:27:58.279
 So, when your circumstances

00:27:58.279 --> 00:27:58.960
 are dark,

00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:00.359
 that's when you've got to

00:28:00.359 --> 00:28:01.380
 use your eyes of faith

00:28:01.380 --> 00:28:01.779
 the most,

00:28:01.859 --> 00:28:03.039
 but only Jesus can open

00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:03.940
 those eyes of faith.

00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:06.420
 So, you may be here today,

00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:08.339
 and you're searching

00:28:08.339 --> 00:28:11.079
 and you're just not sure

00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:11.819
 where to find healing,

00:28:12.919 --> 00:28:13.980
 or you just doubt everything.

00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:14.720
 You're not sure.

00:28:15.399 --> 00:28:15.859
 Well, today,

00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:16.859
 consider maybe God

00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:17.819
 sent a blind man

00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:19.099
 born from birth

00:28:19.099 --> 00:28:19.740
 who was healed

00:28:19.740 --> 00:28:20.959
 to tell you

00:28:20.959 --> 00:28:21.339
 where the end

00:28:21.339 --> 00:28:22.980
 of your search begins.

00:28:23.679 --> 00:28:24.639
 And maybe it starts

00:28:24.639 --> 00:28:25.159
 with worship,

00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:26.500
 like it did for Him.

00:28:26.959 --> 00:28:27.699
 Many of you

00:28:27.699 --> 00:28:28.339
 may be in the room,

00:28:28.399 --> 00:28:28.500
 you know,

00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:28.699
 Derek,

00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:29.559
 I know all that.

00:28:29.919 --> 00:28:30.980
 I'm already a Christian,

00:28:31.119 --> 00:28:32.079
 but I still feel lost.

00:28:32.079 --> 00:28:33.919
 I am barely even

00:28:33.919 --> 00:28:34.879
 making it to church.

00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:36.019
 If I can just survive

00:28:36.019 --> 00:28:36.839
 the week without

00:28:36.839 --> 00:28:37.960
 getting mad

00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:38.859
 and yelling at someone,

00:28:38.939 --> 00:28:40.279
 I consider it a success.

00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:44.099
 Or maybe it's a chronic condition

00:28:44.099 --> 00:28:45.000
 that you have,

00:28:45.099 --> 00:28:47.059
 or a broken relationship,

00:28:47.639 --> 00:28:48.639
 or an illness,

00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:50.099
 or depression,

00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:51.359
 or anxiety.

00:28:52.139 --> 00:28:52.939
 You just don't know

00:28:52.939 --> 00:28:53.439
 where to go,

00:28:53.480 --> 00:28:54.599
 and you feel stuck in it,

00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:56.139
 and you feel far from Jesus,

00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:57.359
 and the church thing

00:28:57.359 --> 00:28:58.220
 ain't working for you.

00:28:58.220 --> 00:29:01.700
 The blind man's teaching you

00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:02.519
 something too today,

00:29:03.400 --> 00:29:04.740
 that Jesus is here with you.

00:29:05.660 --> 00:29:06.600
 Maybe even when you

00:29:06.600 --> 00:29:07.460
 don't feel like it.

00:29:08.420 --> 00:29:09.079
 He's here.

00:29:10.920 --> 00:29:11.980
 And how is He here?

00:29:13.160 --> 00:29:13.839
 Well, He enters

00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:14.799
 into our suffering,

00:29:15.700 --> 00:29:16.720
 the unseen reality.

00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:18.400
 Jesus is the unseen reality

00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:19.440
 that's seen the unseen,

00:29:19.579 --> 00:29:20.440
 that's seen the eternal,

00:29:21.019 --> 00:29:21.279
 right?

00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:22.640
 He enters into it first

00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:23.680
 by dying on the cross

00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:24.779
 and taking all of our

00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:26.019
 potential future suffering,

00:29:26.380 --> 00:29:27.019
 allowing Him now

00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:27.940
 to enter into it

00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:28.519
 with us here

00:29:28.519 --> 00:29:29.960
 by the power of His Holy Spirit

00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:31.299
 so that we can know

00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:32.600
 that we will rest forever.

00:29:33.460 --> 00:29:34.039
 And that means

00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:34.680
 that our suffering

00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:36.180
 is temporary right now

00:29:36.180 --> 00:29:37.680
 with the eyes of faith,

00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:38.900
 but it's building up

00:29:38.900 --> 00:29:40.460
 to something so much greater,

00:29:40.600 --> 00:29:41.019
 eternal,

00:29:41.779 --> 00:29:42.980
 a rest forever.

00:29:43.779 --> 00:29:45.720
 And He enters into it now

00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:47.100
 with you by His Spirit.

00:29:47.779 --> 00:29:48.039
 So,

00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:49.600
 do you notice

00:29:49.600 --> 00:29:50.820
 Jesus entered the space

00:29:50.820 --> 00:29:51.680
 of the blind man?

00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:53.000
 Okay?

00:29:53.100 --> 00:29:54.080
 And from that space

00:29:54.080 --> 00:29:55.779
 comes this incredible story

00:29:55.779 --> 00:29:57.799
 of a miraculous healing.

00:29:57.940 --> 00:30:00.779
 Maybe you've been

00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:01.500
 feeling angry,

00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:02.240
 maybe you've been

00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:02.960
 feeling guilty,

00:30:03.120 --> 00:30:03.720
 maybe you've been

00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:04.160
 blaming,

00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:05.279
 believing lies,

00:30:05.440 --> 00:30:06.860
 me, me, me, me, me, me, me,

00:30:06.860 --> 00:30:07.960
 maybe that's you.

00:30:08.900 --> 00:30:09.299
 Okay?

00:30:11.160 --> 00:30:12.160
 About God,

00:30:12.620 --> 00:30:13.480
 about His people,

00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:15.100
 one of the ways

00:30:15.100 --> 00:30:15.700
 we do is really

00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:16.340
 at His church.

00:30:17.080 --> 00:30:18.140
 We start to just get mad

00:30:18.140 --> 00:30:18.920
 at each other in here.

00:30:19.640 --> 00:30:20.820
 That really helps people.

00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:22.840
 But in your space

00:30:22.840 --> 00:30:23.559
 of darkness

00:30:23.559 --> 00:30:24.700
 or suffering,

00:30:24.820 --> 00:30:25.600
 whatever it is,

00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:27.639
 you know what it is.

00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:28.459
 Just yell it out.

00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:28.879
 Just kidding.

00:30:29.819 --> 00:30:30.859
 What might it look like

00:30:30.859 --> 00:30:32.099
 for you to place yourself

00:30:32.099 --> 00:30:33.240
 in front of Jesus

00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:35.259
 and ask Him

00:30:35.259 --> 00:30:36.199
 to enter your space?

00:30:37.619 --> 00:30:38.000
 And

00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:40.319
 if you don't know Him,

00:30:40.619 --> 00:30:41.759
 here's what that means.

00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:43.039
 You could go to Him

00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:43.859
 and you can say,

00:30:44.379 --> 00:30:45.539
 Jesus,

00:30:45.659 --> 00:30:46.799
 would you enter my space?

00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:48.299
 I don't even know

00:30:48.299 --> 00:30:48.899
 what that means,

00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:49.719
 but would you enter it

00:30:49.719 --> 00:30:50.339
 and teach me

00:30:50.339 --> 00:30:50.819
 and show me?

00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:52.759
 And would you give me

00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.659
 eyes of faith?

00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:54.619
 Will you open mine?

00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:56.359
 And He promises this,

00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:57.179
 inward renewal.

00:30:57.960 --> 00:30:59.059
 He promises forgiveness

00:30:59.059 --> 00:31:00.599
 of that sin of death,

00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:01.939
 which is the consequence,

00:31:02.119 --> 00:31:03.480
 and then giving eternal life

00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:04.279
 instead.

00:31:05.859 --> 00:31:06.980
 Resurrected body one day

00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:08.039
 that you will be in forever

00:31:08.039 --> 00:31:09.759
 that will never worry

00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:10.839
 if you can get out of bed.

00:31:11.359 --> 00:31:12.019
 I'm not even sure

00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:12.960
 you'll sleep, right?

00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:13.599
 Because you're just going to be

00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:14.579
 so amped up all the time

00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:14.980
 with Jesus.

00:31:15.679 --> 00:31:16.700
 But it's death

00:31:16.700 --> 00:31:17.740
 in reverse.

00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:20.259
 And Southwood,

00:31:20.359 --> 00:31:21.120
 what could it mean

00:31:21.120 --> 00:31:21.960
 for us

00:31:21.960 --> 00:31:23.859
 to put ourselves

00:31:23.859 --> 00:31:25.440
 in the spaces

00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:26.180
 where there's darkness

00:31:26.180 --> 00:31:26.880
 in our city?

00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:29.400
 And what might it mean

00:31:29.400 --> 00:31:30.480
 for us to tell

00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:31.920
 our neighbors

00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:33.980
 where we've been healed

00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:35.700
 from our spiritual blindness?

00:31:36.599 --> 00:31:37.720
 What could it mean

00:31:37.720 --> 00:31:39.319
 for us to hold space

00:31:39.319 --> 00:31:40.299
 for people?

00:31:41.380 --> 00:31:43.519
 Not just in our Sunday spaces,

00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:46.180
 but our everywhere,

00:31:46.420 --> 00:31:47.799
 everyday spaces.

00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:50.099
 What could that mean?

00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:52.259
 What could that mean?

00:31:52.900 --> 00:31:53.799
 Just think about that.

00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:54.940
 Jesus will show you.

00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:57.079
 We know here

00:31:57.079 --> 00:31:57.599
 it could mean

00:31:57.599 --> 00:31:59.279
 someone gaining sight.

00:31:59.940 --> 00:32:00.480
 It could mean

00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:01.259
 someone passing

00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:02.359
 from life,

00:32:02.920 --> 00:32:03.940
 from death to life.

00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:04.639
 And what if it all,

00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:05.639
 what if all of that

00:32:05.639 --> 00:32:07.139
 boils down to one common,

00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:08.420
 lowest common denominator,

00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:09.119
 and it's this.

00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:12.199
 Do you have time

00:32:12.199 --> 00:32:13.179
 and space

00:32:13.179 --> 00:32:15.039
 to be with Jesus?

00:32:16.819 --> 00:32:18.259
 To let him show you

00:32:18.259 --> 00:32:19.039
 where you're blind?

00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:21.299
 To heal you

00:32:21.299 --> 00:32:23.079
 and to show you then,

00:32:23.239 --> 00:32:23.799
 like you did

00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:24.639
 to this blind man,

00:32:24.699 --> 00:32:25.579
 where he sends you.

00:32:26.159 --> 00:32:27.219
 So here's the challenge.

00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:29.439
 Would you try to find

00:32:29.439 --> 00:32:30.619
 20 minutes this week?

00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:32.479
 I'm not talking about

00:32:32.479 --> 00:32:33.559
 having a quiet time

00:32:33.559 --> 00:32:35.699
 to use the Christianese language.

00:32:35.819 --> 00:32:36.419
 I'm talking about

00:32:36.419 --> 00:32:37.179
 something a little different.

00:32:37.660 --> 00:32:38.759
 I'm talking about

00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:39.560
 unfiltered,

00:32:40.420 --> 00:32:41.279
 unscripted,

00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:42.940
 uninterrupted time

00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:43.620
 with Jesus

00:32:43.620 --> 00:32:44.620
 where you go

00:32:44.620 --> 00:32:45.980
 and like Bill said earlier,

00:32:46.080 --> 00:32:46.299
 you just,

00:32:46.420 --> 00:32:47.039
 you breathe.

00:32:48.080 --> 00:32:49.420
 And you breathe for Jesus

00:32:49.420 --> 00:32:50.600
 and see what happens.

00:32:51.539 --> 00:32:52.400
 You can take your Bible

00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:52.980
 if you want.

00:32:54.680 --> 00:32:55.840
 Whatever makes you

00:32:55.840 --> 00:32:56.680
 feel closer to Jesus.

00:32:56.799 --> 00:32:57.160
 I'll tell you,

00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:57.980
 it'll be magnified

00:32:57.980 --> 00:32:58.539
 if you can do it

00:32:58.539 --> 00:32:59.200
 somewhere in nature.

00:33:00.400 --> 00:33:01.120
 You will feel

00:33:01.120 --> 00:33:01.940
 something different there.

00:33:02.299 --> 00:33:03.320
 Can you find 20 minutes?

00:33:03.400 --> 00:33:04.340
 If you can't find 20,

00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:05.259
 can you find 15?

00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:06.880
 If you can't find 15,

00:33:07.180 --> 00:33:08.240
 can you find 10?

00:33:08.299 --> 00:33:09.279
 If you can't find 10,

00:33:09.360 --> 00:33:10.140
 can you find 5?

00:33:10.299 --> 00:33:11.400
 If you can't find 5,

00:33:11.460 --> 00:33:12.320
 can you find 1?

00:33:12.840 --> 00:33:13.720
 If you can't find 1,

00:33:13.799 --> 00:33:14.500
 can you call me

00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:15.259
 to go to lunch

00:33:15.259 --> 00:33:15.960
 and I will eat

00:33:15.960 --> 00:33:16.680
 and you go pray?

00:33:19.180 --> 00:33:19.580
 So,

00:33:19.779 --> 00:33:20.000
 amen.

00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:22.060
 The comfort

00:33:22.060 --> 00:33:23.440
 the gospel offers us

00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:23.960
 in suffering

00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:24.660
 is that God's not

00:33:24.660 --> 00:33:25.400
 distant from us,

00:33:25.420 --> 00:33:25.660
 okay?

00:33:26.160 --> 00:33:26.779
 But rather,

00:33:26.880 --> 00:33:27.480
 he's there.

00:33:28.279 --> 00:33:28.460
 Okay,

00:33:28.560 --> 00:33:30.019
 but do you have the time

00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:30.860
 to go be with him?

00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:31.600
 See,

00:33:31.660 --> 00:33:32.820
 Christ redeemed us

00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:33.359
 and redeemed

00:33:33.359 --> 00:33:34.460
 means to buy back

00:33:34.460 --> 00:33:35.359
 out of slavery,

00:33:35.799 --> 00:33:36.779
 to pay ransom

00:33:36.779 --> 00:33:37.779
 to the kidnapper

00:33:37.779 --> 00:33:39.500
 and only through

00:33:39.500 --> 00:33:40.259
 Christ's suffering

00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:40.819
 on the cross

00:33:40.819 --> 00:33:42.139
 could we be bought back

00:33:42.139 --> 00:33:44.039
 from that curse

00:33:44.039 --> 00:33:44.619
 of death.

00:33:44.700 --> 00:33:44.839
 So,

00:33:44.939 --> 00:33:45.519
 he died

00:33:45.519 --> 00:33:46.379
 so we didn't have to.

00:33:47.119 --> 00:33:47.460
 So,

00:33:47.539 --> 00:33:48.659
 he gives us righteousness,

00:33:48.939 --> 00:33:49.619
 his righteousness

00:33:49.619 --> 00:33:51.559
 and he gives us

00:33:51.559 --> 00:33:52.119
 his presence

00:33:52.119 --> 00:33:52.879
 and everything now

00:33:52.879 --> 00:33:53.579
 until we're with him

00:33:53.579 --> 00:33:54.159
 there forever.

00:33:54.819 --> 00:33:55.200
 So,

00:33:55.319 --> 00:33:56.240
 who paid our ransom

00:33:56.240 --> 00:33:56.619
 then?

00:33:56.879 --> 00:33:57.159
 Jesus.

00:33:57.599 --> 00:33:58.019
 Where?

00:33:58.019 --> 00:33:59.119
 On the cross.

00:33:59.460 --> 00:34:00.539
 And who's with us

00:34:00.539 --> 00:34:01.079
 in the darkness?

00:34:01.680 --> 00:34:01.960
 Jesus.

00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:03.500
 And who took our darkness

00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:04.139
 on the cross?

00:34:04.559 --> 00:34:04.839
 Jesus.

00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:06.079
 And who gives us

00:34:06.079 --> 00:34:06.579
 his light?

00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:07.279
 Jesus.

00:34:07.639 --> 00:34:08.460
 And who promises

00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:09.300
 to make all things

00:34:09.300 --> 00:34:09.860
 brand new?

00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:10.719
 Jesus.

00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:11.659
 That's why we can say

00:34:11.659 --> 00:34:12.460
 even through our walk

00:34:12.460 --> 00:34:13.000
 through the valley

00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:13.880
 of the shadow of death

00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:15.480
 I shall fear no evil

00:34:15.480 --> 00:34:18.340
 for you are with me.

00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:21.400
 Nothing in your store matters.

00:34:23.179 --> 00:34:23.619
 God,

00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:24.759
 would you please be with us

00:34:24.759 --> 00:34:26.800
 today,

00:34:26.800 --> 00:34:28.100
 right now

00:34:28.100 --> 00:34:30.300
 as we breathe.

00:34:31.220 --> 00:34:32.539
 Make us the non-anxious

00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:33.140
 presences

00:34:33.140 --> 00:34:34.680
 that we can be

00:34:34.680 --> 00:34:36.140
 only because

00:34:36.140 --> 00:34:37.080
 we can rest in you.

00:34:37.360 --> 00:34:38.019
 Enter our pain,

00:34:38.140 --> 00:34:39.000
 enter our dark space

00:34:39.000 --> 00:34:40.000
 and bring us your light.

00:34:40.120 --> 00:34:41.300
 Show us where we need healing.

00:34:41.780 --> 00:34:42.800
 Open our eyes of faith

00:34:42.800 --> 00:34:44.060
 and send us

00:34:44.060 --> 00:34:45.460
 to watch you work.

00:34:46.820 --> 00:34:47.660
 Maybe even just

00:34:47.660 --> 00:34:48.380
 loving people

00:34:48.380 --> 00:34:49.519
 and listening to them

00:34:49.519 --> 00:34:50.880
 is what that means.

00:34:51.800 --> 00:34:52.580
 Show us.

00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:54.100
 Thank you, Jesus.

00:34:54.660 --> 00:34:55.780
 It's in your holy name

00:34:55.780 --> 00:34:57.120
 that we pray.

00:34:58.620 --> 00:34:58.900
 Amen.

00:35:00.200 --> 00:35:01.360
 For more information,

00:35:01.740 --> 00:35:02.620
 visit us online

00:35:02.620 --> 00:35:03.660
 at southwood.org.

00:35:03.660 --> 00:35:03.720
 Thank you.

00:35:03.720 --> 00:35:04.220
 Thank you.

00:35:04.220 --> 00:35:04.720
 Thank you.